American Libraries |
||
Site Navigation
Left Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.
|
||
Philadelphia Library Supporters Rally against CutsTwo hundred opponents of service cuts to the Free Library of Philadelphia packed council chambers March 17 and sounded off for more than three hours about the city’s plan to turn 20 branches into express branches open only in the afternoons and without a professional librarian.Students, librarians, teachers, and parents recounted their personal experiences and stressed the value the branches add to the community, the March 18 Philadelphia Evening News reported. Kensington branch children’s librarian Juanita Vega-DeJoseph testified that reducing hours to “a paltry four hours a day will deny our youngest, innocent patrons from day-care and preschool centers . . . essential life-empowering skills.” ”Are those people at the branches less deserving than those at the full-service libraries?” asked Friends of the Free Library Executive Director Amy Dougherty. “I worry that this is the start of a trend that could continue next year.” Dougherty told American Libraries that there was such an outpouring of people who wanted to testify that Councilman Michael A. Nutter, who called for the public hearing, had to stop taking requests due to time constraints. Library Associate Director Kevin Vaughan, who spoke in place of Director Elliot Shelkrot, told the council, “I want to stress that we see this as a plan on which we can rebuild the library system as the economy improves. I want to underscore that our approach was not adopted lightly, and we deeply regret making the kind of cuts that we have had to make.” According to the March 18 Philadelphia Inquirer, council members pledged to work with residents, library administrators, and union representatives to restore the hours and the 17 positions that were cut. However, some councilors complained that although they had voted recently to put $1 million back into the library budget, Mayor John F. Street has refused to spend the money. Posted March 18, 2005. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
