Philadelphia To Close 11 Libraries
By Samantha Honl | Online Only | Dec. 23, 2008
The man who enters a library is in the best society this world affords; the good and the great welcome him, surround him, and humbly ask to be allowed to become his servants. —Andrew Carnegie, 1895
From California to Illinois to Pennsylvania, the recent economic decline is taking its toll on the country's historic fabric.
Last month Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced plans to close 11 of the city's 54 libraries, four of which are historic structures built with donations from Andrew Carnegie.
"Painful program and service cuts are necessary, but I want to assure you that we've preserved our core services, minimized the impact on vulnerable populations and considered the long-term impact of our choices," said Mayor Nutter during his Nov. 6 budget speech to the region.
Despite Nutter's assurances, there has been a large public outcry. Friends of the Free Library, a Philadelphia nonprofit, is trying to raise the $8 million needed to save all 11 branches.
Just this past week the group held several events, including a "save our library" read-in during which children read letters to Mayor Nutter about why their library is important to them. Friends of the Free Library also held three rallies and encouraged residents to attend two town hall meetings. To top off the week's events, on Saturday night 200 people flocked to a "Bibliodiscoteque," a fundraising dance party held at a Philadelphia bar. Watch footage of the Dec. 6 "read-in"
Today the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia plans to nominate the four Carnegie libraries to the city register of historic places.
"I want them to stay as libraries," says John Gallery, director of the Alliance. In a letter to Mayor Nutter, Gallery wrote that his group is "concerned that if they are vacated as libraries and become surplus city properties, they will either decline or be sold or leased in ways that will jeopardize the historic value of the properties."
Carnegie, who felt that the wealthy should not only help the poor but help the poor to help themselves, built 1,600 libraries across the country between 1886 and 1917. For Carnegie, a library's interior layout was even more important than the exterior. His innovative libraries were designed to allow a single librarian to be able to oversee the whole library.
Even if the city's historical commission designates the four Philadelphia libraries historic, only the exteriors of the buildings will be protected.
On New Year's Eve, Friends of the Free Library will hold a "candlelight farewell vigil" to say goodbye to the Holmesburg Library. All 11 libraries are scheduled to close on Jan. 1.
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Comments
Submitted by Ken at: January 8, 2009
Once great societies experienced a decline in public services before the fall; libraries have become a daytime shelter for the homeless, not the designated purpose for these structures. The smell of libraries in some cases is now worse than a gym locker room. The library service costs would be less if homeless housing and other state homes weren't under the budget axe. Maybe the military base reutilization program can provide shelter for the homeless, challenged, and disadvantaged, not libraries.
Submitted by Ms. Boone at: January 5, 2009
this should not be happing this should nt be though of bbeing happened.They should be closing bars,and sripe clubs and not libraries,pple need these buildings to help them with alot of things.
Submitted by Brian at: December 26, 2008
I sure wish our taxes were spent on our own country.