It’s been a rough year for libraries, but as we suspected, they continue to exist and thrive. Not so long ago, it appeared the Salinas public library would close due to lack of funds; today, it’s not a sure thing, but the community came to realize the important place the library serves in their collective lives. This will be a choice faced by many citizens in the coming years.
Now comes words that prisoners in San Quentin have raised funds for the libary. Reasons varied, but center around the prisoners’ belief that better education would have changed their paths. Now they’re taking action on behalf of others.
“If you take away libraries and recreation centers, the only place kids have to end up is a place like this,” said convicted killer Olish Tunstall, 39, who came up with the idea to help Salinas after seeing a story about it on the news.
