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Address to NCCo Library Advisory Board - 10/6/04
FOP Forum - 9/27/04
Newark Methodist Women's Group Candidate Forum - 9/18/04
Introduction for David Cobb - 8/27/04
Minquadale Fire Hall Forum on Public Safety 8/17/04
Making the Vision of Universal Health Care a Reality Now 5/27/04
Cannon 2004 GPDE Convention Speech 5/22/04
GreenViews TV Appearance 4/18/04
Address to Joint Sunset Committee on DSWA 4/13/04
Salem Nuclear Power Plant 3/28/04Address to NCCo Library Advisory Board - 10/6/04
NCCo Library Advisory Board Candidates Forum
Hello. My name is J. Roy Cannon. Let me begin by telling you a little
about myself. I was born and raised in southern Delaware. I grew up wanting to be a farmer, like my family before me. I liked the land and enjoyed working with my hands. I also enjoyed sports. I was the captain of my high school football and baseball teams. However, I didn't pursue farming or athletics. What I did carry forward with me is a strong, farmland work ethic and a belief in the power of teamwork.
I received my undergraduate degree in 1974 and my Master of Counseling degree in 1983, both from the UofD. Now I work as the clinical director of a counseling program helping children and their families throughout New Castle County.
I live in Meadowood with my wife of 22 years and our two adopted teenage children. We attend Wilmington Friends Meeting.
In response to the first question, my family and I are members of the
Kirkwood Highway Library. Although the library system is always burdened with sub-par funding levels, it still manages to serve the community well. Many of my own positive experiences over the years verify this. For example, on more than one occasion, I have wanted to read a book, usually a newly published one, which the library did not have. When I suggested that the book be purchased for the library so I could read it, in each instance they did. I am also very pleased with the inter-library loan system. If the Kirkwood Hwy library doesn't have a book, it will search the county library system and bring it in for us to borrow. When younger, our children participated in the county library summer reading programs.
I would like to see county libraries expanded, both in number of libraries
and the volumes on the shelves. To accomplish this, I support having well trained and well paid library staff. With increased staffing, I'd like to
see the libraries open 7 days a week, every night of the week. I would work to have safe bike and walking routes established from nearby neighborhoods to each library so children could access them with more ease. Finally, each county library should be equipped with cutting edge computer technology and have ample computer workstations.
These are the kinds of projects that I would work to make happen as a member of New Castle County Council.
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Someone once said to me 'You can gauge a civilization by its libraries',
meaning that we can measure the level a civilization has obtained by the
quality of its libraries and reading culture. Encouraging members of our
society to read both fiction and nonfiction, read about their own culture
and other cultures, stimulates our imagination. It also lays the basis for
recognizing and valuing a world diverse in its thought, cultures, and ways
of living. Such learning is extremely valuable for a society like ours.
There is little doubt that our culture, which has produced such an anarchy
of distractions - TV, video games, internet chat rooms, etc. - must do all
it can to make sure that joy of reading and learning and the capacity for
organized thinking regain their rightful places in our society. Libraries
are instrumental in doing this. The younger the age at which our children
are given the opportunity to expand their minds through reading and,
gradually, research, the more likely they will be to honor diversity, want
to think out tough problems to arrive at sensible solutions, seek nonviolent
resolutions to tense situations, and to create the kind of society in which
they want to live.
Because of my belief in the value of libraries, I would like to see high
quality and easily accessible libraries become a more important part of
building community in our neighborhoods. Tutoring services, spelling bee's, book club meetings, and quality research capabilities are aspects of the library I'd like to see developed. The later could be accomplished by linking county libraries with larger library systems, much like universities do. That way, without the huge cost of purchasing and maintaining large volumes of books, an enormous number and range of books would become available to library users. Finally and very quickly, I oppose the so-called Patriot Act. I was a central figure in the process that led to the introduction of resolutions calling for its repeal that were passed by Wilmington and Newark City Councils last year. As a member of NCCo Council, I would support the Delaware Library Association and introduce a similar resolution in county council.
In conclusion, let me say this: For our civilization to move forward, our
libraries must move forward, and to do this libraries need more government and public support. I think my commitment to higher education and life-long learning demonstrates my on-going support for libraries and the vital services they provide our citizens.
Thank you for your time and attention.