twistedlibrarian writes “They chanted, screamed and hoisted signs with messages such as “Got Homework? Too Bad” and “One City, One Dream: A Strong Library.”
Hundreds of people thronged the steps of the Central Library at 19th and Vine Streets yesterday morning to protest cutbacks in service at library branches around the city.
“We are fed up with the latest assault on library services,” Amy Dougherty, executive director of the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia, shouted to a cheering crowd. “We want books, we want librarians, and we want open libraries, and we want it now!”
Starting in January, the city began cutting hours from full to half-day service at 20 branches. Targeted to become “express libraries,” the branches will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. six days a week but without master’s-degree librarians trained to use reference materials. Ten branches already have been converted; the reconfiguration will be completed by mid-April. The Street administration sent layoff notices to 17 library workers, most of them librarians.
Philadelphia Follies
Several days before the protest an article appeared in the Inquirer with a quote by the President of the Free Library that he made at a Friends of library meeting. Mr. Shelkrot told the gathering, ” I am not going to be able to satisfy you.”( Philadelphia Inquirer 2/11/05) I wrote a letter to the newspaper giving a short description of what librarians do for the public. It has not yet been published and it may not be. I wrote in my letter that the Free Library needs $5 million to avoid the cuts. This is a small amount compared to other municpal budget items. It probably cost that much to prepare the field and additionl security for the recent NFC championship game. It is horrendous to have such cuts for this amount. The city builds stadiums for mega millions and it cuts a mere $5 million from an educational tool. What is very stange is that in light of the protest the voices of professional librarians in Philadelphia have been strangely silent.
Re:Philadelphia Follies
If you want to see an example of unsilent librarians, check out this link about Saturday’s rally. http://www.hallwatch.org/opinion/1108325739522
I’m a librarian at the Free Library, and I just want to let you know that the silence you hear isn’t our fault.
Many of us wrote to the Inquirer, but only three letters have been published. The coverage of this story has been more balanced recently, however, so I think we had an effect.
We were very upset about ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano’s comments in the February 11 Inquirer story, though, so now many of us are trying to write to her (and President-Elect Michael Gorman) urging ALA to condemn or at least criticize what Elliot Shelkrot is up to.
By the way, the Administration isn’t too happy with our reaction to their devaluing of our profession. After the critical voices of librarians appeared in the Inquirer and on TV over the weekend, the Administration sent out an email yesterday telling us that all media requests have to go through the Communications Department. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.
Re:Philadelphia Follies
I didn’t realize that the Inquirer didn’t print letters about the subject. I had three letters printed on library matters last year. Did you try to contact local talk radio like WPHT. Dom Giordono is a very strong library advocate. I once got five minutes on a library issue on Jeff Katz’s program. It is interesting that none of the academic librarians in Greater Philadelphia or the administrations of the library schools at Drexel and Rutgers have made no comment. Unfortunately this “solution” in in Philly can have a terrible ripple effect in other library system as well as colleges and universities.
Re:Philadelphia Follies
There have been contacts with Dom, but he hasn’t asked anyone to appear yet as far as I know. It wouldn’t hurt to contact some other hosts, so maybe we’ll do that.
I’m dismayed at the lack of response by library schools as well. This is a serious threat to the profession.