DPL Blog

This month I want to talk about the pandemic and the wearing of masks. As the person ultimately responsible for the safety and welfare of both the public and my staff in our facility, I take the Ohio Department of Health’s mask mandate seriously. No one reading this column can deny that COVID-19 is inching closer and closer to each and every one of us. Library patrons, staff, volunteers, and friends have battled the virus. Some have lost spouses and loved ones. My parents have tested positive. My children have had their in-person education halted, been in quarantine, and had sports canceled or postponed because of the virus.

I read once somewhere that “you get what you expect.” I have always kept that quote in mind when I hire a new employee. If you are clear about your expectations up front, then performance improves because there is no doubt what one’s responsibilities are. As you read this, please know that our library’s mask requirement will be enforced. If you have a health issue that makes wearing a mask difficult, we will work with you to serve you, as mandated by the Ohio Department of Health. Please ask for myself or a manager if this situation relates to you.

I will close with this. The whole mask debate reminds me of what is known as Pascal’s Wager. Pascal was a 17th century French philosopher, theologian, and physicist who argued that a rational person should live their lives as if God exists and should seek to believe in God. If it turns out that God does not exist, then the worst case scenario is that an individual may have missed out on some luxuries or pleasures in life. They would have at least lived a good life. On the flip side, if it turns out there is a God, then the individual will receive “infinite gains,” as in eternal life, and avoid “infinite losses,” the opposite of eternal life. Believe me, I am not here to debate or proselytize or argue. I simply see a very similar parallel to today’s mask issue. Wearing a mask is the “rational” thing to do. If it turns out that the health benefits of wearing masks were meaningless, then at least you followed directions and were considerate of others. If it turns out that mask wearing does make a difference, then you were doing your part to help minimize the spread of the virus.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter! Together, we can keep each other safe so the library can remain open for all!

-Jim Gill

Director

There are so many ways that 2020 has not lived up to our expectations. BUT, there are some good things that have come from this pandemic. In having to go digital with our programs, the Dover Public Library has reached a wider audience than ever before. Check this out!

Chris Zoller, Assistant Professor at the OSU Extension Office in Tuscarawas County, gave an Overview of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). 

Two gentlemen joined us from Lima, Peru to learn about Genetically Modified Organisms.  In Peru, there is a debate about the advantages and disadvantages of GMO potatoes.  Some agriculturists want to introduce GMO potatoes into Peru in order to help the poor farmers of the highlands, but there is a group of people who oppose it because they want to preserve the multiple ancient strains of potatoes.   In 2011, the latter group convinced the government to impose a 10-year moratorium on the planting of GMO potatoes.  There was an international research center about potatoes in Lima, but, due to the moratorium, they had to move their center to Kenya, where there was more of a possibility of planting and researching GMO crops.  Next year, the moratorium will expire.  The group against GMO crops wants to extend the moratorium for another 15 years, but the men who joined us argue in favor of the GMO potatoes.

The questions in my mind are these:  Do they care more about the traditional crops and ancient seeds?  Are they considering the nutritional value of the potatoes grown in the Andrean highlands?  Can a poor farmer get more yield if he planted GMO potatoes and therefore make a profit for his family? 

Chris Zoller agreed to send his presentation to the gentlemen so that they can translate the information into Spanish and use it in presentations in the upcoming year (to convince the government officials to allow the planting and further research of GMO potatoes.)

I asked the Peruvian gentlemen how they found out about our program and they simply said a colleague told them about it.  And just like that, the Dover Public Library went international!

-Sherrel Rieger, Adult Programming Specialist