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02/12/2005 Rally to protest library cuts (Ed Goppelt)

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Ruth Hyman: "Duh, what is an 'express library'"?
2005/02/12

Ruth Hyman, believes there's nothing express about the City's plan to reduce almost half its branches to part-time "Express Libraries". Hyman, who works as a librarian at the Lucian Blackwell Regional Library, had a visceral reaction to the City's PR happy talk of "express libraries": she stuck out her tongue.

Indeed it's hard to imagine Managing Director Phil Goldsmith calling cuts to the Fire Dept. an "Express Fire Dept." Regardless of what officials call reduced hours and staffing, Hyman believes city residents are losing out. "People are being down-serviced and shunted to other branches," says Hyman.

The City is currently in the process of reducing hours at 20 branches to Monday through Saturday 1-5 pm. By concentrating the branches' remaining resources when they are most heavily used, the City appears to be trying to make the best of a bad situation. The "Express Libraries" would be staffed by part time City employees who are not librarians.

According to Hyman, even during the Depression local libraries were open more than 4 hours a day. A better alternative in Hyman's view would be to close the branches on Thursdays and Saturdays, but keep staff and hours intact.

Read related Hallwatch editorial on library funding.

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The Men Behind the Library Cuts
2005/02/12

This protester identifies three men behind library cuts: Free Library Associate Director Kevin Vaughn, his boss, Library Director Elliot Schelkrot and Mayor John F. Street. This seems a reasonable guess, but Managing Director Phil Goldsmith should probably be on this poster as well.

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Amy Dougherty: "a library without librarians is not a library."
2005/02/12 Dougherty heads the Friends of the Free Library, a non-profit which advocates for the Library and its patrons. She organized the rally.

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Crowd
2005/02/12 According to event organizer Dougherty, 300 people attended the rally.

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Tom Cronin: "Do we want our kids in the library learning or on the street learning something else?"
2005/02/12 Cronin heads the union representing the City's white collar employees. Cronin questioned why use does not determine expenditure and suggested that in coming up with a plan, Schelkrot and Mayor Street "should spend time in the library doing [their] homework" Cronin also took a shot at advocates of tax reform: "how can Council consider reducing the Business Priviledge Tax when the City can't afford to fully fund its libraries?"

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Elected officials weigh in
2005/02/12 The rally was well attended by elected officials. Clockwise from the top State Rep. Kathy Manderino, State Rep. Mike McGeehan, City Councilman Michael Nutter, State Senator Shirley Kitchen. Not pictured: State Rep. Mark Cohen.

Sen Kitchen: "There are tax breaks being given to business. I'm not against building up the City. I'm for educating our children and families."

Councilman Nutter encouraged library supporters to attend City Council hearings on the library cuts at 2:00 pm March 17, 2005 City Hall Room 400.

Rep. McGeehan: "[Governor] Rendell knows what his job is. It's our job to kick him in the butt and remind him of it."

Rep. Manderino reminded the crowd that Harrisburg had made big cuts to the state funding for libraries two years ago. "Last year we were half-way successful" in restoring state funding for the libraries. "We will take nothing less than the full restoration of funds at the state level."

Rep Cohen: "You have the power to place pressure on City Council and the State Legislature. You have the power to ensure none of us forget" about the libraries.

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Street Theater=TV Coverage
2005/02/12 The rally organizers obviously knew that it's good to put on a little street theater if you want your event covered on TV. Left: a woman cuts a library card to show what the cuts will do to people's ability to use the library. "Ben Franklin" admonished the crowd to contact their elected officials: "if you don't do your part, you will not see these doors open when you are here to learn."

The street theater paid off: Reports on the rally were aired on two TV stations, Fox 29 and NBC 10.

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2005/02/12

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2005/02/12

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Jean Gavin
2005/02/12 Gavin is from Fox Chase.

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2005/02/12

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2005/02/12

Show your support for the library. Urge your city and state officials to fully fund the library.