San Diego Library Advocates Are Calling for Residents to Speak Out at City Council Tonight — Wed, May 8 at 6 pm

Patrick Stewart, the head of the San Diego Library Foundation, a non-profit advocate for the City’s libraries, is calling upon residents to attend tonight’s City Council meeting to show elected officials that libraries are essential to our communities. They deserve to be funded in our City budget, not neglected.

Directions for Wednesday, May 8 Budget Review Committee meeting at the City Administration Building, 202 “C” Street, 12th floor Council Chambers

The City Administration Building is a one block walk from the Civic Center trolley stop off the Orange or Blue lines and is served by several MTS bus lines. Paid parking is available in lots near the Administration Building and in the adjacent Evan Jones Parkade.

Library supporters are asked to meet at 5:45 pm in the lobby of the City Administration building  before we go up to Council Chambers for the 6 p.m. start. Hint: Look for the group with “I Love My Library” stickers to receive your complimentary tote bag for joining us, designed by Library Shop SD.

If you arrive late, meet us in the Council chambers on the 12th floor. Note: Council Chambers can be chilly so consider bringing a jacket.

Speakers will be given one minute each. If you do not wish to speak, you can cede your time to another library advocate. We are available to help you fill out and submit speaker slips. Below are suggested speaking points.

The Council will hear from the public on all elements of the proposed budget at this meeting. There will be many speakers. So, please anticipate that it could take a few hours before you can address the Council.
Zoom/
Phone in:      Being at the meeting in person is the most effective way to advocate. However, if you are unable to attend in person, you can still participate and join us virtually:
·      Zoom: https://sandiego.zoomgov.com/j/1607807743
·      Call in: 1-669-254-5252
o   When prompted, input Webinar ID: 160 780 7743#
The clerk will provide directions on when to “raise your hand” to get in line to provide comment on the library budget.

Speaking Points for your Testimony
Below are speaking points we hope you can use in your comments to Council. Feel free to personalize your comments to reflect how library cuts impact you and your community or to add information from the supporting information further below. Remember, you may only have one minute to make your statement.
No library cuts!
Mayor Gloria’s proposed budget continues chronic disinvestment in our library system.
Every year, our library falls further and further behind. Now, this budget proposes devastating $2.6 million cuts in library programs, technology, and staff positions.
These cuts disproportionately impact communities of concern. And they hamper the library’s ability to deliver quality services.
Don’t let the library and our communities fall further behind.
·       Oppose library cuts.
·       Fully return the library programming budget.
·       Ensure every community has a full-time youth librarian.
·       Return the budget so that the library can replace library computers.
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Supporting information

The San Diego Public Library is falling further behind.
·       The library’s missed out on $691 million in funding over the past 21 years with the city’s failure to meet their own Library Ordinance goals.
·       The library’s books and materials budget is embarrassing. San Diego County spends three and a half times more than the city on library books. Sacramento, LA, San Jose, and Oakland spend more than twice per capita.
·       Our libraries are crumbling. Every San Diego library has a backlog in maintenance issues. Six branches were rated as “poor” in the most recent Facilities Condition Assessment (Kensington-Normal Heights, Linda Vista, Ocean Beach, Paradise Hills, Rancho Bernardo, San Carlos, and University Heights). Despite the overwhelming maintenance need, the Library Department does not have its own maintenance budget to fix its issues.
Cuts to the library program and technology budget undermine the library’s ability to serve the community, most critically in underserved communities that rely on these services.
·       The budget proposes a 60 percent reduction to program spending, which could mean branches will have just $4,000 next year for all their programs.

·       Each year, more than 60 percent of all library programs help children and teens learn and prepare for school success. A program budget cut impacts children and teens in every San Diego neighborhood.

·       The Library Master Plan found communities South of the 8 rely on library technology more than others. Cuts to the library’s technology budget inequitably impact those areas.
·       These cuts disproportionately impact communities of concern.
Proposed cuts in staff, or not filling vacant positions, impact basic library services and cripples customer service.
·       Holds on books, which already are excessively long, will increase.
Denying seven communities the benefit of a full-time Youth Services Librarian (YSL) disadvantages children in those communities.
·       YSLs are the backbone of library services for children. They spark a love of reading in young children, provide a safe afterschool learning environment for teens, and promote year-round learning by managing the popular Summer Reading Program.
·       Seven branches – North Clairemont, Oak Park, Paradise Hills, Allied Gardens/Benjamin, San Carlos, Tierrasanta, and Kensington-Normal Heights — lack a full-time youth librarian.
A proposed $300,000 reduction in the city match program places an unfair reliance on private philanthropy.

·       The city would rely even more on private philanthropy to offset reductions in programming and technology spending, which strains library supporters’ motivations to see library services and resources delivered in their communities.