Nov. 22, 2008: OB rallies to save its branch library.
MEMO
To the community of Ocean Beach:
RE: The Proposed Closure of the Ocean Beach Branch of the San Diego Library
Mayor Jerry Sanders has threatened to close all libraries – including the OB Branch – except for 2 days a week, and only on alternate Saturdays.
The Friends of the OB Library are organizing a petition drive, gathering signatures in opposition, and plan to submit the first batch to the City Council on Thursday, May 5th.
Yet a Rally to Save the OB Library is also needed – but the Friends … who include many who are long in tooth and short of hair … are stretched line … so …
OUR LIBRARY NEEDS A FEW GOOD ORGANIZERS to put together a RALLY in front of the OB Library to bring attention to its possible closure and to help gather more petitions.
The Friends of the OB Library are standing firm on these:
- NO ADDITIONAL CUTS in this year’s budget over our last year’s budget.
- NO LIBRARY CLOSURES.
- NO STAFF CUTS FROM LAST YEAR.
The OB Library Needs You!
We need YOU to step forward and help save the Library. Ocean Beach needs its youth to step up and assist those of the earlier generations who have worked to save and improve our vital community center – the Library. We need new blood to be injected into the grassroots organizing that is needed to block any library closures. The time is now. Save the library – save our intellectual and knowledge center. It’s up to you.
A meeting has been called for Saturday, April 30th, at noon, in front of the Library, to organize a rally and to support the Friends of the OB Library.
* Contact us at the OB Rag if you can make it: obragblog@gmail.com
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I live in Pennsylvania. Several years ago the Commonwealth cut library funding by 50%. While they weren’t able to restore any funding that year libraries have faired better in more recent years having regained most if not all of that funding.
I’ve found that librarians are actually pretty astute at political organizing. They know how to write letters to the editor! They are pretty good at mobilizing patrons and they have a built in volunteer force that they can divert to advocate for the cause of libraries in the public sphere.
Hi Ben- I’m originally from Pittsburgh, the place that put “Carnegie” in Carnegie libraries. You are correct about the nature of the strong library advocacy efforts we have consistently seen across the country. Unfortunately, our mayor has stated that we face a 40M budget deficit in the following year and he clearly implied that more cuts to services will be considered. These cuts are disproportionately made to our already chronically underfunded libraries and park & rec services.
Realistically, we are not looking at regaining anything for years. The question is still how much worse can it get.
I am encouraged to hear that the budget is improving for your library system. I suspect that you are one of those smart, committed library advocates. Congratulations on your success.
Looks like OB needs the kids to step up to the plate here. So far, by the looks of the comments, we’re in trouble.
Dear editordude: has anyone contacted the Rag by way of your email about this?
Not yet. We’ll forward names and contact info to the Friends of the OB Library. We are stirring interest in our new GREEN OB T-shirts, though.
Calling all young people of OB! Your community does need you, now! Put down the bong, put away the surf board, close up that laptop, leave your house and help your community save its library, for chrissakes.
I was listening to a segment on NPR recently where they said that we’re coming up on the first generation of kids who know less than their parents do. This among other reasons is why. So damn sad. I can’t make April 30, but want stay updated on the topic and will take part in whatever I can.
I’m all for organizing a library revolution!
But, as a library employee, there’s a lot I can’t do (especially during work hours). So, please help out when you can for all of us who can’t help out 100% of the time.
To all you bongloading individuals, youngsters, oldsters, hipsters, etc., please consider joining your local Friends of the Library and attending their meetings. You might even consider volunteering at your local library. We could use all of the help we can get!
Thanks OB Rag!
Erin
Library Clerk
University Heights Branch
I’m think I’m turning RapePublican, I really think so! Let’s outsource the Library. There’s got to be a good ole boy RapePublican who can work with good ole boy Shitty of San Diego RapePublican Oversight (i.e., looking the other way) to make Library funding go as far as Ambulance funding ($12,000,000 embezzled)! Way to go Col. Sanders and Henhouse Faulconer!
It’s funny how everyone is looking to blame some current councilman, mayor, or political party for making cuts. We have a $2-3 billion pension problem and a total city budget of $1billion. The cuts in service are the result of the city’s every increasing pension payment based upon outrageous assumptions and promises by people long gone from city government.
RB- you can channel the U-T all you want and we are not buying it. Actually, I’m rather tired of the U-T….
I have a degree in finance….don’t need the UT.
If you don’t understand the time value of money, required rate of return, or measurements of investment risk, you could not possibly understand the pension mess or why it is not going to get better. You are not buying it because you don’t understand finance principals.
All that was needed on the pension problem was to pay in the fund on schedule instead of giving tax cuts to people who hold the money. What else can happen when a bunch of crooks and anti-government wacko’s take over a major political party.