Five years ago come January we celebrated a happy ending at Powers Library. A beautiful new addition to the library building was at last complete.

How brightly the lights sparkled over new walls, woodwork, equipment, furniture, brass and chrome. Spacious, up-to-date and accommodating, the library's story appeared to conclude on the happiest of notes.

But was that truly the end of the story?

Today, it's time to pick up our story and see where we are.

Chapter II in the saga of The Beautiful New Library opens with a big question for readers: How to sustain library service and maintain our facility in a world of shrinking revenues?

In short, how to keep that happy ending.

Remember the story of “The Little Red Hen?” The barnyard animals all looked forward to a big piece of Hen's home-baked bread, but no one was willing to help Hen in the actual work involved.

Everyone expected something for nothing.

Libraries are like that. We love having them, but we don't feel motivated to contribute financially to their success. We think someone else will cover the cost. Why is that?

Could it be that we have forgotten what it means to live in a democratic society?

That freedom, and free entry to your public library, are not without a catch called civic responsibility? Most of us have grown up enough to agree that “there is no free lunch.” Why then would we expect public services handed to us on a silver platter?

Consider this:

My friends tried living in New Zealand for a year. They found wide open spaces, unspoiled beaches and fees for every service at the local library. It cost them to get a library card, to place materials on hold, to use the computers, to borrow a book.

Could that happen here? Once upon a time the communities around joined forces in overwhelming support of Powers Library's expansion plans. Folks dipped deep into their pockets, knowing full well that to build a library is a noble task.

And build it they did.

And five years later it is just as noble to keep that library going. Donors are the heroes and heroines of the library's never-ending story of providing free access to information, entertainment and life-long learning.

The generosity of individual donors is often the cliff-hanger that tips the balance sheet between red and black.

The story of Powers Library continues to be written, by people like you.

Can we hang on to that happy ending? Your generosity is a good beginning.

Leslie Boba Joshi is director of Powers Library in Moravia.