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ExecDirector Podgajny didn't close those branches because they were superfluous or unwanted -- he was forced to close them because there was no money to keep them open. He's doing the best with what he has, which is (effectively) less and less every year. The Reiche neighborhood fought to save its branch, and the Riverton neighborhood is now doing the same. Riverton is isolated; many of its patrons (especially kids) won't be able to reach another PPL branch. Volunteers cannot fully replace librarians. Portable libraries cannot entirely replace full-service libraries. The fact that Portland is better-served by its library system than many other cities of its size should be a matter of pride. Nobody benefits when a library closes.