library

Leeches, Today’s Date and the Photo of Charles Main – the “Liberry Lady” Answers Your Questions

January 9, 2011 by Anna Daniels

There is no word in the English language that rhymes with orange. Spiders do not have moveable mouth parts. Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window- see “Defenestrations of Prague.” These are just a few of the thousands of factoids that remain firmly lodged in the Liberry Lady section […]

A Librarian With a Sunny Smile I Once Knew and Loved

January 4, 2011 by Ernie McCray

San Diego has company coming to town this weekend, about 10,000 librarians. My kind of people. I mean I just loves me some librarians. And there was one in my life long ago who was the best librarian imaginable, a real pro. And it has bothered me for years that I can’t remember her name, […]

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“Yes” on Prop D – or your library and Rec Center will be permanently closed!

October 7, 2010 by Anna Daniels

That is pretty much the choice we face in voting thumbs up or down on a five year one half percent sales tax increase on Prop. D in November. Also throw in reduced Fire and Police services, which also concerns us, if D doesn’t pass.

Last month Mayor Sanders announced that the City was facing a $72Million budget deficit in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011. As you all know, yearly and sometimes twice a year budget reductions have been going on for a long time- four years in fact.

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OB FLASHES: News, calendar and whatever – June 30, 2010

June 30, 2010 by Frank Gormlie

DETAILS AND LINKS INSIDE:

*OB Fireworks to begin at 9pm on July 4th
*’Bum’ Sticker Not Popular on Newport Ave.
*Keep Your Dogs Inside During the Fireworks on the 4th
*”Morning-After Mess” Clean-up Scheduled
*Community Forum On Homelessness In OB On July 6th
*OB Library Performance Programs for the Summer
*A Historian’s View on Growing Up in OB
*Join OB Historical Society on their Annual OB Historical Walk – July 17th
*Jazz 88 OB Music & Art Festival September 11th

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Dark Days At City Libraries Go Into Effect

March 21, 2010 by Anna Daniels

by Anna Daniels

The reduced hours schedule for our libraries went into effect Saturday (March 20). The Central library is now closed on Saturdays because of the draconian 10% mid year budget cuts exacted from the library budget by the mayor and approved by the city council this past December.

That 10% cut was more than any other General Fund Department had to sustain. Think about that- our largest library which supports your branch, and serves all citizens- is now closed on Saturdays. And the hours have also been cut at our branches, which I will address further on.

We should all be asking “Why is the mayor balancing the budget on the back of our library system?” I suspect the answer is because he can. We didn’t stop him.

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The Public Library: the great equalizer

February 1, 2010 by Mary E. Mann

by Mary E Mann

Let’s not mince words, I am willing to admit that I love the shit out of books. Much more than is probably healthy or even altogether sane. I love how they smell, how they look on my bedside table or on used bookstore shelves. I love the quiet contemplation they induce in people, the gentle low murmur of contentment that fills bookstores and libraries thick as a cat’s purr beneath its ribs. I love watching a friend or lover read, their eyes intent, their bodies in the same room as mine but their neurons a world away.

Most of all, I love reading, curled in my bed before sleep, on the couch with a cup of tea on a rainy day, stretched flat and gently roasting on the beach. I love unfurling my mind into a new, uncharted landscape, inhabited by Zorba’s and Mrs. Dalloway’s, and seeing how it fares. I am an entirely impartial defender of books.

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Poll shows support for local branch libraries but also shows ambivalence

December 7, 2009 by Frank Gormlie

Our recent poll on cut-backs to the City’s libraries shows strong support for the local branches – including, of course, OB’s library. But the poll also demonstrates a certain ambivalence, and a weakened support for a downtown Central Library for San Diego.

58% of respondents gave responses that reflect a strong undercurrent of support for local library branches. Of that, 29% said they were amazed that Mayor Sanders was trying to cut libraries again. 12% want to use monies ear-marked for the Central library to keep the branches (and rec centers) open. 9% claimed they were ready to commit civil disobedience in order to keep the local branches open. 8% stated that reduced hours were a real hardship as they and their family depend on the local branch.

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Mayor Sanders Changes his Position on Libraries! Seriously?

December 1, 2009 by Anna Daniels

by Anna Daniels

Mayor Sanders is rethinking the draconian cuts he has proposed to our libraries! I attended a Library Commission Meeting on 12/1. Kris Michell, Sander’s Chief of Staff addressed the commission and said the Mayor values and has listened to the feedback he has been receiving on the library issue. Good work everyone! Each of you who took the time to respond through emails and phone calls and postings to the OB Rag made a difference!

Sanders is now proposing a 36 hour schedule throughout the whole system, and no staff layoffs. This new proposal reflects a $1.5 Million change in the Mayor’s current budget according to Michell who left the meeting after deliverings her remarks.

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Mayor Sanders is Gunning for our Libraries – Again!

November 28, 2009 by Anna Daniels

by Anna Daniels

Yes- it is “déjà vu all over again.” This time last year Mayor Sanders proposed closing 7 branch libraries, including Ocean Beach. Ocean Beach responded immediately. Ocean Beach responded unequivocally- DO NOT CLOSE OUR LIBRARY! A number of you were even willing to participate in non-violent civil disobedience by forming a human chain around your library in the event of closure.

Your response so inspired and encouraged me personally that I became involved with a city-wide effort to rally all of the communities against the closure of the other 6 branch libraries. We mobilized quickly, acted in unity and we won. Read about it here and feel very, very good. Just don’t feel so good that you think you should bow your collective heads to this year’s proposed library cuts. That would be so not-OB.

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‘A street is not a home’ nor a toilet

April 6, 2009 by Anna Daniels

by Anna Daniels

One day last week I read that the City was disbanding its winter shelters, which not only provided protection from the elements but also linked people up with services they needed- health care, jobs, and housing. These shelters “housed” a very small percentage of the total homeless population but their importance shouldn’t be dismissed.

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Activists Keep Philadelphia Libraries Open

January 15, 2009 by Source

PHILADELPHIA–Activists have won another victory against the slated budget cuts here. On December 30, the day before 11 neighborhood libraries were set to be closed, Judge Idee Fox issued an injunction, halting the closures. She ruled that Mayor Michael Nutter needs a vote from the City Council in order to shutter the libraries. Now, the mayor must win an appeal or get support from the City Council, which has already called for a six-month delay on any library closures. Nutter has proposed $1 billion in cuts in the next five years, much of which will come out of social services. Initial cuts included permanently closing 11 of the city’s 53 libraries, cutting seven fire companies, 68 public pools, leaf and trash pickup, and snow plowing. Many of these services are being cut in the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

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Football and Baseball Yes, Libraries No

December 30, 2008 by Staff

Don Bauder, blogger for the San Diego Reader, wrote a recent post “Football Yes, Libraries No” – reposted below. We wanted to share images of the $26 million pedestrian bridge that Bauder mentions. Groundbreaking ceremonies on the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge just occurred back on October 23rd. It will allow Petco Park visitors – baseball fans – easier access to the ballpark from across Harbor Drive. San Diego says Yes to baseball. CCDC is driving this project. Now what with the Chargers’ revival, all of this is even more relevant. This bridge is way more important for our civic life than branch libraries or even a new downtown one. Easy access to baseball but not to books.

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How new and missing city councilmembers would have voted on library closures

November 29, 2008 by Frank Gormlie

DAVID WASHBURN at voiceofsandiego has been doing his homework when it comes to library cuts and City Council votes. How would Councilmember Hueson and the incoming members have voted on cutting libraries and rec centers.

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Victory for Libraries! San Diego City Council Votes to Keep Libraries & Rec Centers Open

November 24, 2008 by Frank Gormlie

A victory for people power : the libraries and rec centers stay open … for now. After a two hour hearing, the San Diego City Council voted 6 to 1 to keep the 7 libraries and 10 Rec Centers open.

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Residents Turn Out to Save OB Library – Rallies Held at All 7 Threatened Libraries

November 22, 2008 by Staff

Rally reports & photos – Ocean Beach, Carmel Mountain, University Community, Benjamin, University Heights.

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Independent Budget Analysis of Library Closures Raises Additional Concerns

November 17, 2008 by Patty Jones

The following excerpt – recommending actions regarding library and rec center closures – is from the OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST REPORT, with Patty’s highlighted points in red. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS ON BUDGET ADJUSTMENT PROPOSAL A. Library and Recreation Center Closures. As core City services, long-term or permanent closures of branch libraries and recreation centers […]

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We Are Hopin’ to Keep the Doors Open! Photo Gallery

November 15, 2008 by Frank and Patty

Ocean Beach Library – citizens rally to keep libraries open. GO HERE FOR LATEST UPDATE (Click on the pictures to see larger versions of them) OCEAN BEACH, SAN DIEGO CA. “We are hopin’ to keep the doors open!” was chanted today throughout the downtown business district of Ocean Beach, as 150 O.B. residents and library […]

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Showing Some Love, Ocean Beach Library Rally Videos

November 15, 2008 by Patty Jones

Ocean Beach, San Diego CA Frank Gormlie and Anna Daniels speak to the crowd who came to the Ocean Beach Library today to show their opposition to city library closures. Sorry the video quality is so bad, but the speakers were great! These two young girls showed their love for the library and books.

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Is This a Memorial to the Ocean Beach Library?

November 14, 2008 by Frank Gormlie

OCEAN BEACH, CA. Went down to the Ocean Beach Library today, the old building at the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd and Santa Moncia Ave. It was around 1:00 and the place was busy. As you may know, when you enter the building, you find it has two opposing wings – on the right – […]

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Reader Rant: There is no ‘temporary’ closing of a library

November 11, 2008 by Staff

by Jon Christensen After a career in public finance I know how common it is for Libraries and Parks to be among the first sacrificial offerings at the budget alter. Please consider these few facts; There is no “temporary” closure of a branch; a branch closed is a branch erased. Book stock will mildew and […]

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Branch Closings and Budget Cuts Threaten Libraries Nationwide

November 11, 2008 by Staff

American Libraries / November 7, 2008 – revised Nov. 10 City governments across the United States prepared in early November to slash public library budgets in the wake of revenue shortfalls and dire economic news. Even if the lame-duck Congress passes an additional economic stimulus package when it returns from recess the week leading up […]

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Ocean Beach Library Slated to Be Closed, Says Mayor Sanders

November 6, 2008 by Frank Gormlie

SEE UPDATES – GO HERE AND HERE. OCEAN BEACH, CA. On Wednesday, November 5, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced the closure of 7 libraries – including the Ocean Beach branch – and 9 rec centers and a gym, as part of his new budget cuts. These slashes, as well as cuts to the police […]

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