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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

Libraries Provide World Of Opportunity

Editor's note: The following letter of appreciation was send to Barbara Shiflett, director of the Hernando County Public Library System, and is reprinted here at the author's request.

I'd like to tell you how much I have appreciated Hernando County Library services over the last four years. I recently completed my doctorate in business administration, and it would not have been possible without the outstanding assistance of the local library system.

I started my first course in pursuit my Ph.D. in 2005. To write my first research paper. I needed books that were not available in our local library. I went to the West Hernando Branch and met Jeanie for the first time at the reference desk. She was very helpful and thought she would be able to find all the books I requested through the inter-library loan system in about a week. All the books arrived the following week and that is when I knew I would be able to complete my online degree requirements or at least I knew one potential excuse for not completing was eliminated.

I used the inter-library loan system consistently for the next four years and probably acquired well over 100 books and articles through the reference desk. After a while it seemed most of the reference librarians knew my name, though I admit did not know theirs. Everyone I called or met was exceedingly helpful. It was like having my own research assistants available to find materials I needed.

There was one time that my book request for a research project exceeded the number of books authorized for an inter-library loan. But someone in the library hierarchy provided a waiver to the regulation so I could get all the books I needed to complete my assignment in a timelier manner. Obviously, someone understood my situation and went beyond what they were required to do.

There are many people to thank for helping me complete my doctorate, but I would be remiss if I didn't write this letter to our local library. I will always remember how helpful everyone was. I will also encourage anyone at any age to further their education if they desire to do so. Between the use of computers and the local library there is a world of opportunity and fewer excuses.

Mark E. Cioffi, Ph.D.

Spring Hill

Government By Group Hatred

Sometimes I wonder whether anyone realizes or cares about what we've all witnessed in the last few weeks.

First, we had the spectacle of an administration (Obama/Geithner) and a political party (Democrats Schumer and Dodd) absolutely complicit in the granting of $162 million in AIG bonuses.

This was deliberately written into a bill too big to read and too important to be delayed. The insertion of this provision was deliberate and surreptitious.

Then, we had the same administration (Obama/Geithner) and the same political party (Democrats Schumer and Pelosi) whipping up hatred against the bonus recipients and warning that if voluntary return of the bonuses wasn't forthcoming, there would be dire government-related consequences.

This was followed by the same political party (Barney Frank/Andrew Cuomo) demanding that the names and addresses of the recipients be released so that ACORN (Democrat black shirts) could organize a group of thugs and bus them to Connecticut to harass and threaten the bonus recipients and their children with unthinkable violence. This violence included death by piano wire garrote, murder of their children and rape of their wives.

This is government by group hatred and is the inevitable end of a deliberate decision to incite class envy and hatred in order to be politically successful. The Democrats only need a motto for their efforts, and I'm suggesting they take a page out of history and adopt the well-known slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei." This was and is the greeting sign on the gates of Dachau.

I've seen the result of this type of government. I've walked the grounds of Dachau and stared into the maw of the crematoriums. We don't want to go in that direction but that is the direction we are going with this group of Democrats and their minions in ACORN.

Terry A. Lyon

Brooksville

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