Please Stay AJC Books Section

How come when money's scarce, the Arts are the first victim?

When money's tight, school's often must cut music programs, while still forcing more state testing preparation on kids.

There's a little thing called balance that gets thrown out of whack when that occurs.

Folks talk about books "going out of style," which I used to doubt would ever happen. But then, the Books section of a major daily like the Atlanta Journal Constitution gets caught in the cross-fire of budget cuts. So, I start to wonder.

I work for a small city government, I know about budget cuts all too well. My own is pretty anorexic as we draw closer to the fiscal year's end.

But dammit, stop gunning for the section that's probably already victim of the smallest budget, when money gets tight.

I know there was no special focus on kiddie lit in the AJC Books Section - but that's beside the point.

Stripping media outlets of their 30 second spotlight on literature is one step closer to minimizing the importance of books.

People who are already willing advocates of reading will not be impacted by the absence of the AJC's Books Section. Readers are going to read as long as there are books to read.

But the less access those on the fence/reluctant readers have to information on books, the less likely they are to be converted into readers.

So, if we can save the Books Section of the AJC, why not try?

Sign the petition and circulate.

Never underestimate the power of collective outcry.

Off my soap box!