Libraries, book stores are disappearing treasures

Every Friday for years, my elementary-age daughters and I would go to Borders to browse and buy books. It’s hard to describe the shock and disappointment we felt when we learned it was closing. We didn’t believe it until we drove up to a vacant building where once we felt a sense of adventure and fun just walking up and down the aisles.

Now our other haven, the public library, is closed on Thursdays. We visit our library several times a week. My daughters had a very hard time understanding how such a treasure could be closed on a school day.

I once read an article by a Herald columnist that calculated the value of public libraries. Some things are worth preserving because they’re priceless.

Zamady Fueyo, Palmetto Bay

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‘First 48’ exploits victims of crime

Thank you for your recent coverage of the city of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa’s decision not to renew a contract with the reality show The First 48. For years the show’s film crew has roamed the streets of Miami’s urban communities searching for victims of homicide to feature on their show. 1369259411
Spiritual or religious?

Martin Slater’s May 17 letter, Changing beliefs, responding to Myriam Marquez’s May 12 column makes the common mistake of equating religion and spirituality. While religions encourage the development of our spiritual sense, religious dogmas are unnecessary to cultivate one’s own sense of spirituality. Many nonreligious individuals are highly spiritual, keenly in tune with their inner-self and the concept of a creative universal force. 1369259411
DCF is disgraceful

Re the May 21 article DCF deemed boy safe before he was left in vehicle: It’s unbelievable that the Department of Children & Families would do absolutely nothing about a woman who reportedly was drunk and driving, hitting walls and passing out while her young son was in the car untethered. 1369259411

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