How sad is this?
Sep
14, 2009 |Filed in:
UncategorizedAll Free Library of Philadelphia Branch, Regional and Central Libraries Closed Effective Close of Business October 2, 2009
All Free Library of Philadelphia Customers,
We deeply regret to inform you that without the necessary budgetary legislation by the State Legislature in Harrisburg, the City of Philadelphia will not have the funds to operate our neighborhood branch libraries, regional libraries, or the Parkway Central Library after October 2, 2009.
Specifically, the following will take effect after the close of business, October 2, 2009:
All branch and regional library programs, including programs for children and teens, after school programs, computer classes, and programs for adults, will be cancelled
All Parkway Central Library programs, including children programs, programs to support small businesses and job seekers, computer classes and after school programs, will be cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of relocating the Philadelphia Author Series programs to other non-library facilities.
All library visits to schools, day care centers, senior centers and other community centers will cease.
All community meetings at our branch and regional libraries, and the Parkway Central Library, will be cancelled.
All GED, ABE and ESL programs held at Free Library branches will be discontinued, students should contact their teacher to see if other arrangements are being made.
In addition, all library materials will be due on October 1, 2009. This will result in a diminishing borrowing period for books and other library materials, beginning September 11, 2009. No library materials will be able to be borrowed after September 30, 2009.
Even as we remain hopeful that the State Legislature will act and pass the enabling funding legislation, we wanted to notify all of our customers of this very possible outcome. If you have any questions about impacts to Free Library services, call 215-686-5322, or visit the Free Library of Philadelphia website at www.freelibrary.org. If you have questions about changes to City services, or if you want to be kept informed about this situation, we encourage you to contact Philly 311 by calling 3-1-1 between the hours of 8am and 8 pm Monday-Friday, and 9am-5pm Saturdays, e-mail philly311@phila.gov, or visit the City of Philadelphia website at http://www.phila.gov.
There’s more info at the freelibrary website, if you want to read more. Are the huns about to invade America or what?
This makes me sad. You would think someone could step in and help out? Fundraiser maybe? That is a lot of activities and readers out in the cold. What a shame.
I know! Apparently the Penn State legislature can't balance their budget. I heard it on the radio. They're about to lose all sorts of state budgeting.
Oh good grief! That's ridiculous! That's a huge library system too. So, does that mean the libraries there just shut the doors and let the books collect dust?
I know there was a threat here in Ohio with libraries closing; some of our local branches were on the chopping block. Thankfully they won't have to close but it does look like their ability to obtain new materials will be severely hindered unless a library levy passes in November.
I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a local library. Research for my own novel would cease and I wouldn't be able to read much since buying books is too expensive.
I know. I can't imagine trying to do research on China without the library. I've read doctoral thesis – several of them – for MTC and now for the next book. Trying to even FIND this stuff without a library would blow my mind. I need to Thank God for my blessings!