Erin Wincek, new director of the Saxonburg Public Library, has the right attitude in regard to the position.

She not only wants the library to continue to operate well and maintain most, if not all, of its current programs, but she wants to expand its programs menu, especially in regard to resources for young children and teens.

Now, if only the library's board of directors would similarly display the right attitude in regard to details surrounding the library.

The library is a public entity that receives state money and money from Saxonburg Borough, but the library board is opting for a veil of secrecy on some aspects of the operation that it appears is outside of the parameters of the state's open-records law.

Anytime public money is being spent, whether it be by a school district, municipality or other levels of government, the public has a right to know how the money is being spent.

The situation in Saxonburg is a small-scale issue in terms of money, but isn't flattering for a library that, on the basis of the service it provides, has earned respect in the minds and hearts of the community. Transparency is required when public money is involved.

First and foremost is the unanswered question of the amount Wincek's predecessor was being paid at the time of his resignation on Aug. 16.

Tom McKracken, library board president, refused to divulge the salary of Steve Twentier, the former director, and library board members have refused to say why Twentier resigned.

McKracken told a Butler Eagle reporter that Wincek's salary would not be available until this week.

McKracken classified Twentier's reason for leaving as a "personnel matter" and claimed that public libraries aren't public agencies, so they're not subject to the state official-records law. He used the same justification for not releasing Twentier's salary.

However, a media counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association said the salary of a public library director is public information. It would seem McKracken and the other library board members might even be risking the library's eligibility for future government funding.

A new library director like Wincek, who has such strong credentials for the position, shouldn't have to be caught up in such a situation.

The library board should open up and provide the public with the information to which it is entitled — for Wincek's sake as well as the library's well-being in general.

Wincek is going to be hard-pressed to achieve her objectives if the library's funding is impacted by what only can be judged as the board's incorrect stance over the public's right to know.

The board should rethink that stance. It's a matter of principle.