For budgetary reasons, the city administration is planning to close 11 of the city's branch libraries permanently. Mayor Nutter only a few years ago as a councilman crusaded against closing libraries even temporarily! The plan is morally wrong and stupid.
Sign an online petition against the closings here and read some apt remarks below from Marc Stier why:
"This is why you should
sign the petition.
- Library branches are critical to education in Philadelphia. We live in a city in which elementary schools do not have libraries. Indeed, only one high school library, at Central, meets the states minimum requirements.
- Library branches are one of the most important places our kids go after school. Our kids find not only books and magazines and computers at the library but also helpful librarians who aid them with homework and watch out for them.
- The library is the primary institution in the city that helps overcome the digital divide. Families without internet access make use of the library on regular basis. Many adults and kids who own computers still have to use the library for internet access or to print their documents.
- At a time when unemployment is rising significantly, library access is critical to those who are looking or applying for new jobs as many jobs applications are only taken on-line.
- Libraries are critical to the civic life of our communities. They are important meeting places for community groups and associations.
- Nothing is more important to later life success, by almost any definition of success, than literacy and a connection to the world of ideas and learning. Libraries are the main institution of government that connects people to that world"
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