Library+Closings

Dear Parent Organizations and SDP supporters,

Your help is needed and your network of families/schools/students. Mayor Nutter has ordered the permanent shuttering of 11 free library of Philadelphia branches. The buildings will revert back to public property to be SOLD. Yes, neighborhood libraries serving thousands of Philadelphia citizens, will be SOLD. A 20% -25% reduction of services to citizens of Philadelphia.

The Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia, an independent non-profit whose mission is to support the free library, is working with communities to organize and mobilize. Neighborhoods are hosting community meetings and rallies and have invited their elected city and state officials and the local media. We are also looking for solutions and ways to problem solve this crisis: private, foundation or corporate funding, citizen funding, partnerships, what will it take to keep libraries open in ALL Philadelphia communities? What will it take to ensure that in two years, another five or ten more libraries are not shuttered?

We ask you to visit the Friends of Free Library (FFL) web site at [|www.libraryfriends.info] TODAY! The home page includes the following information: Ø  Dates and Locations of meetings and Rallies Ø  Listing of the 11 branches scheduled for closure in all parts of the city (west, south, southwest, north, northeast and northwest) (four of the branches are historic Andrew Carnegie constructed buildings *) ·  Haddington* ·  Ogontz ·  Logan* ·  Holmesburg* ·  Fishtown ·  Queen Memorial ·  Fumo Family ·  Kingsessing* ·  Wadsworth ·  Eastwick Ø  Listings of legislatures to contact Ø  Downloadable petitions (available at all 54 city branches) and fact sheets Ø  Press clippings and tv news clips

Many of the schools that surround the libraries do not have school librarians/library programs. These children rely on their branches for afterschool homework help and tutoring, school projects, book borrowing, summer reading, computer and internet access, free community program. 50% of Philadelphia families do NOT have home computers. Many children and families can now walk in the safety and familiarity of their communities to their neighborhood branches which are also safe havens and social gathering places as well as centers for education and life long learning! Losing their branch forces children and families to walk extra miles or pay out of pocket for transportation over sometimes hazardous and unsafe routes. Do we want this for our children and their families?

__You will be receiving an FFL advocacy e-mail blast and we hope you will lend your support in this city wide mobilization effort of Philadelphia citizens. We could use your help to:__ ·  Post this information on your organization’s list serv or web site including the [|www.libraryfriends,info] web site and/or link our organization and volunteer contact info to help ·  Post rally dates and locations and encourage families and school children to attend ·  Encourage a letter writing campaign by families and kids to elected officials and to Mayor Nutter (call elected officials) ·  Visit libraries and sign the petition or download ·  Encourage letters to the editor of community newspapers ·  Advocate for reduction of days/services across the system as opposed to permanent termination of services (i.e New York is reducing from 6 day per week to 5 day across the system and not shutting libraries)

I personally thank you in advance for your support. Your leadership, partnership, ideas, suggestions, contacts and connections are welcomed, needed and appreciated!

In unity, Karen Karen D. Lash Community Organizer, Friends of the Free Library kdlash@libraryfriends.info President, Friends of Holmesburg Library (RALLY on MON NOV 17th @ 4pm) 267.303.3018 FFL mobile kdlash@comcast.net