American LibrariesSearch American Libraries  |
||
Site NavigationLeft Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
|
||
Librarian Delegation Offers Expertise in Salinas“A library exists as a community resource of great value. As such, we must work to preserve our libraries for future generations,” American Library Association President-Elect Michael Gorman told a group of some 125 Salinas (Calif.) Public Library boosters February 23. He and five other librarians were visiting the city as a library delegation “to manifest our concern and also offer help and advice” on the management of a library-tax campaign to save the city’s three libraries, which are slated to close due to lack of funding. The delegation is believed to be the first ever formed by ALA for such a purpose.The ALA president-elect addressed Salinas library supporters at an evening brainstorming session held by the grassroots group Save Salinas Libraries. Earlier that day, Gorman—along with Linda Crowe of the Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Library System, California State Librarian Susan Hildreth, ALA Council member Vickie Johnson, former California State Library Association President John Kallenberg, and current CLA President Danis Kreimeier—met with Salinas officials regarding the municipality’s $8 million shortfall. “It’s evident that the city doesn’t have the financial resources to keep Salinas library service going. They need a tax measure,” Gorman told American Libraries, referring to officials’ decision to close all three libraries by mid-April “as an inevitable last step” in light of the fact that city authorities have even laid off school crossing guards. Meanwhile, a private fundraising effort launched in early February by Mayor Anna Caballero had yielded $158,275 as of February 23. City Manager Dave Mora told the Salinas Californian that the Rally Salinas! donations would keep all three libraries open an extra two months—until June 17. As to ALA expanding its advocacy role, Gorman emphasized that while he was hopeful that the delegation was the start of a stepped-up Association response to threats to library service, he did not consider it “the model of how we’re going to react to public library funding crises in the future.” Posted February 25, 2005. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
