The Albany library board's efforts to distribute the library costs more fairly throughout the area are to be commended, although I think the clear solution is to make libraries a county, or even a state, function. That way no one gets a free ride.

It is so important that people believe they are being taxed fairly. I was watching a news show a while back with the head of the IRS answering questions, and he said: "The American people are honest, and don't mind paying their fair share of taxes. It is when they think the Joneses down the street are not paying their share that we run into trouble."

In Lebanon there is a huge new library. It is my understanding that cities like Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home serve a population around four times the actual count inside the city. So this is why such a large facility is justified.

It is beyond belief that one-fourth of the homeowners should shoulder the whole load for everybody. A quick look at the phone book showed me that those ladies who roasted me royally for being opposed to spending so much money on a library live outside the city limits.

Is a county library system where all homeowners pay their share such a novel idea?

Ron Tansley, Lebanon

A citizens group trying to form a Linn County library district withdrew its petition last year.