Letters to the Editor

A brief tale about the future of the empire

It was a diabolical scheme of the grandest sort. The ruling patricians would lie in wait whilst the politically popular Marc Trumpius wallowed in his ego-mistress, and wallow he did. And after a short while, as predicted, his love for himself and his possessions became so great that he could bear to be with them not. His attendants wearied from their 24/7 support of his errors and ways and Trumpius soon found himself alone and without. "I care not," he opined, "I need only myself and what I've got, not this multitude of incompetent rot. I bid you farewell, and bother me not, hence more."

And so he left, with little dismay and much disarray. The plan was well at hand. Trumpius' second-in-command, Pencius, soon filled the void. He ruled, ever so briefly, whilst protocol was followed and soon yielded leadership, as planned, unto Ryanius, leader of the senate. The transition was quick and complete. And now the ship of state was in the hands of the intended. May he steer and guide it well. All hail, Ryanius.

Jack Fuller

Rogers

Library staying true to concepts shown to voters

As an ardent Fayetteville Public Library supporter and an advocate for last year's library millage election, I am writing in response to Thursday's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial regarding the library's expansion.

As promised in last year's election -- and thanks to overwhelming support by the citizens of Fayetteville -- the library is moving forward with an 80,000-square-foot expansion and renovation that will:

• Double the size of youth services

• Add additional space to meet, study and collaborate

• Create a separate genealogy/state and local history space

• Include a multi-purpose space with seating capacity for up to 700

• Add more parking (from 220 to 435 spaces)

At the time of the millage election, the City Hospital property was still in litigation. There was no certainty the library would be able to complete its purchase. Consequently, voters were informed during the millage campaign that the library expansion could go "horizontal" onto the City Hospital property, or "vertical" upon its existing site. The conceptual designs presented during the election were simply that, one concept for how we could expand.

The library board and staff are excited to take the next step by gathering Fayetteville citizens' ideas and suggestions and to put flesh on these bones. Readying the community for the design phase is hardly "bait and switch" with regard to what was promised in the election and what is being delivered. The library management team regrets that it may have appeared that way to some. The aesthetics of the new facility may vary from the initial concepts shown to voters, but the core expansion elements of the building will remain the same.

Everyone at the Fayetteville Public Library remains committed to being good stewards of Fayetteville taxpayer money and in designing and building a facility that exceeds the high standards that this community demands. Please participate in this next round of design-oriented public input sessions! They will begin in early October.

All are invited to check the Fayetteville Public Library web site (www.faylib.org) and social media for exact dates, times and locations.

Jeff Koenig

Fayetteville