Libraries are the anchor of a community. Without a fully functioning library, the Elmhurst community will surely come apart. As a resident of Elmhurst and a concerned citizen of Oakland, I cannot and will not in good conscience stand by and allow this to happen.
- Libraries across the country are currently showing an increase in attendance due to the downturn of the economy yet are concurrently suffering the strains of budgetary cutbacks. [cite] More people are homeless and using libraries as a safe and comfortable place to retreat to during inclement weather and, with books at their disposal, a respite for the spirit and soul. Record numbers of unemployed are utilizing public libraries for job research. Cut library hours and services can and will hurt our already flailing economy only further.
- The federally funded Weed & Seed program provides funds for children's programs at Elmhurst by designating it an official "Safe Haven", that is, a safe and secure place for children to go after school so they are not on the street being influenced by drugs, gangs, prostitution, violence, loitering, alcohol and other idle mischief that youth fall prey to. Cutting library hours will only contribute to increased juvenile delinquency.
- Many elderly in our community are on fixed incomes and, as such, have few social outlets. The public library provides them with vital social connections. Gerontologists say isolation and loss of a social network is the number one cause of depression in the elderly [cite] We need our libraries to be available to our elderly.
As a public building, Elmhurst sits in an already vulnerable, economically depressed region of Oakland. By reducing the hours and days of operation, this will leave our branch open and vulnerable to vandalism and trespassing for illegal, improper use by drug dealers, vandals, prostitutes and vagrants. We have fought for years to mitigate these problems. Reducing library operations will only encourage these rogue elements to return especially if the proposal to reduce Oakland's police force by 130 officers comes to bear.
Who Needs Our Mighty Voices? Elmhurst Library and 5 other branches in Oakland, California.
ReplyDelete* Kids who go to these safe places to read and do homework
* Seniors who make communities solid
* Unemployed adults using resources and the Internet for job-search
The mayor's budget proposal slashes hours impacting 6 libraries. Elmhurst Branch would only be open 2 days per week!
Time sensitive. City of Oakland is scheduled to adopt the two-year budget on June 16 and June 30, 2009.
How can we help?
Call or email the mayor and council and tell them they must keep Oakland libraries open at least 5 days a week! Attend the budget meetings and tell them in person!
Ron Dellums (510)238-3141 officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com
Larry Reid (510) 238-7007 lreid@oaklandnet.com
Nancy Nadel (510) 238-7003 nnadel@oaklandnet.com
Jean Quan (510) 238-7004 jquan@oaklandnet.com
Ignacio De La Fuente (510) 238-7005 idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
Desley Brooks (510) 238-7006 dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
Jane Brunner (510) 238-7001 jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
Patricia Kernighan (510) 238-7002 pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
Rebecca Kaplan (510) 238-7008 atlarge@oaklandnet.com
Carmen Martinez (510) 238-3141 cmartinez@oaklandnet.com
The Mayor and City Council will hold a series of public meetings about the proposed budget on the following dates from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall:
* Wednesday, May 13
* Thursday, May 28
* Monday, June 1
1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza
1 City Hall Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612
Elmhurst Branch
1427 88th Avenue
Oakland, CA 94621
(510) 615-5727
Thank you wonderful librarians, staff, Friends of the Library, patrons, and all supporters of the Elmhurst Branch and all libraries across the country!
http://friendsofelmhurstlibrary.blogspot.com
Very well said. The Elmhurst community has come to rely on the library being there when they have a need - for social, academic or safety reasons. To be open fewer that 5 days is criminal. The Friends will make our voices heard.
ReplyDeleteVery well stated Vuturistic! I feel and share your passion and urgency about the situation. I work for OPL and now is not the time to close libraries down, especially those branches that are located near schools, like MLK, Elmhurst and Golden Gate. We are seeing more users at the library of all ages. We are helping them with resumes, online job applications, unemploymnet registration, homework assistance and setting up email accounts. And on top of all of this we are still able to provide first-class library service.
ReplyDeleteHere are my suggestions for keeping libraries open and sufficiently staffed:
1. Don't lay off the front-line library workers: Librarians, Aides and Library Assistants, instead trim fat at the top, in Library Administration. We currently have TWO Library Directors. Reduce by one. That would save at least $155K just in salary alone.
2. Close AAMLO African American Museum and Library. This is a "luxury" we can longer afford. This library doesn't serve the general public and the books don't even circulate. This would save at least $138K in the salary.
3. If the branches are closed/combined, then close/combine or eliminate the TWO Supervising Branch Librarian positions. With reduced staff, who would Supervising Branch Librarians supervise? At least $150K in salary savings here.
4. Ask your Council representative to look closely at the library's budget proposal. Ask them to trim the fat. This could result in keeping branch libraries open and hiring more staff to work with the public.