The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, October 30, 1995               TAG: 9510260042
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

REAL FRIENDS OF THE NORFOLK LIBRARY

Congratulations to The Virginian-Pilot for helping bring the needs of the Norfolk public-library system to public attention. The two front-page articles which recently appeared presented an issue of vital concern to our community which needs to be publicized and addressed.

As president of the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library, I work closely with citizens who are users of and advocates for the library. Our organization and its members strive to encourage public support for the library and to enrich its resources and facilities. We have been disheartened to see the efforts of library administration and staff hampered by recent budgetary cutbacks.

The Norfolk public-library system is truly in crisis. However, it is also on the brink of a wonderful revitalization. The board of trustees, together with newly appointed Director Sally Reed, has brought renewed enthusiasm and vision to the system. We are grateful that City Council now plans to embrace the library as one if its top priorities.

It is our hope that our city government will work in concert with concerned citizens to provide the financial and philosophical support necessary to make our library system one in which we can all take pride.

HARRIET T. REYNOLDS, president

Friends of the Norfolk Public Library

Norfolk, Oct. 13, 1995 by CNB