In Oostzaan’s tiny library you will only find picture books for the little ones and novels and thrillers for adult readers. Borrowing and returning books is done via a card system, because the library is without staff. PvdA councilor Eelco Taams is not satisfied with this. “It should be a place where people lift themselves up. Where they learn something. And without it costing a lot of money.”
A petition more than two years ago to keep the children’s library afloat was signed 440 times at the time. Nevertheless, the cutbacks continued and only a range of books for the youngest children up to and including four years of age remained. Youth up to the age of 18 is dependent on the school library.
Shame
Eelco Taams is a councilor of the PvdA and the son of an East Zaan cattle farmer. He was the first in the family to continue studying and became a teacher. He is therefore ashamed of the library in his hometown. He thinks that municipalities have forgotten the important social function of a library. “In its current form, the library is three times nothing. Surely there must be more to offer than just thrillers and novels?”
Isabelle Visser has a stack of books in her bag to hand in and has already selected three new books. All thrilling thrillers. “I can still find something new now, but I doubt whether that will still be the case in six months.” She is used to the fact that no one is there to help her. “It’s a shame you can’t ask for help.”
Accessible
Miquel is a first-year Business Administration student in Amsterdam. He still lives with his parents in Oostzaan and often visited the library until he was fifteen. “That was quite different from this one,” he says, his gaze sliding along the books. “There’s nothing in there that I find interesting, just novels and thrillers. Not my taste. I like Lord of the Rings.”
Despite the meager supply of books, Isabelle is happy with the library. “Because otherwise we have to go to Zaandam. Not too bad, but it is much more accessible for the people in the area.”
During this council term, councilor Eelco Taams will try to boost the quality and supply of the Oostzaan library.