Library Name

At 3 a.m. I went outside to cool off. Above me was a single brilliant shining star in an otherwise empty and murky sky. It made me think of Alma Reaves Woods lighting the path, leading thousands of children out of the dark haze of ignorance and hopelessness.

It is only right that 40 years of dedication be rewarded by naming the Watts branch library after her (June 26). It was her foresight and vision to give children the knowledge and tools to escape into a brighter future. Alma Woods will always be the heart and soul of that splendid symbol of hope.

DIANE MACFARLAND

San Marino

* Congratulations to Alma Reaves Woods for the well-deserved honor of having the new Watts branch library named for her.

The first Times story of Mrs. Woods’ accomplishments (June 23) was heartwarming; however, it gave the impression that the only source of library service in the Nickerson Gardens area was the Los Angeles Public Library.

I can attest to the fact that the Los Angeles Unified School District also offered library service to the children of Nickerson Gardens, beginning in the early 1960s, through the library of 112th Street School.

I was the first school librarian at 112th Street, serving from 1968 to 1976, thanks to special federal funding. The library was well patronized; every class visited there every week to learn about books and to check them out.

I’m sorry that I never met Mrs. Woods at that time. We surely shared the same goals.

MAY H. ZENTMYER

Manhattan Beach