My letter to Oprah

I am president of Friends of our local branch library (Elmhurst) in East Oakland, CA. I am at my wits end, Oprah, and desperately need your help.

Kids in East Oakland struggle every day to get a decent education. Our schools have no library. They must rely on the public library for research materials, a safe-haven, after-school place to study, Internet access, new books and a tireless, dedicated library staff to help them where teachers, parents and other peers in our community are often missing. These kids have to deal with high levels of street crime and violence, prostitution recruitment, drug dealing and using, gambling, vandalism, loitering, theft and gun violence. Now they are at further risk than ever before.

The City of Oakland, to balance the city budget, is slashing the library budget. Hours, staff & new collections will be reduced or eliminated making the library less accessible and more prone to vandalism. These kids cannot afford cross town bus fare to visit our downtown main branch. They must rely on our neighborhood branch. For 5 ½ years we have fought to get a public bathroom and drinking fountain installed. We finally got the money, got the project approved and now, with these budget cuts, are not even sure if we are going to have a library in two years.

As a lover of books and literature, Oprah, you know the value and importance of reading and a good education. I need your help to bring awareness to this City's leaders and citizens to remind them that our public libraries are the cornerstone of the community. Libraries don't just lend books, they provide much, much more. Librarians and staff are often the only adult guidance that these kids at risk have. Without a library and adequate access to it, they lose not only their access to books but much more. This is a complex situation not easily covered in these short forms. I cannot stress emphatically enough how vital it is to keep our little library intact. Can you help us please?

Charles A. Aiken, President
Friends of Elmhurst Library
Oakland, California