Mayor Chris Beutler announced Friday that his budget proposal for 2009-2010 will include funding to keep South and Bethany branch libraries and neighborhood pools open. He was joined for the announcement at South Branch Library by Sheridan Elementary student Grace Doll and her friends who protested the closing of the library earlier this year. Newspaper article at:
http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/07/03/news/local/doc4a4e403be904c989937395.txt.
The Mayor’s proposed budget includes $392,730 to keep the two libraries open. Beutler thanked City Council members who worked with him to find the revenue needed to maintain the services. “They share my belief that a great city is more than roads and sewers, more than police and fire,” he said. “While those services are extremely important, they do not create community bonds or lift the spirit the way a neighborhood library or pool can.”
At the July 3, 2009 announcement, the effectiveness of the Facebook pages (
Save South Branch Library and
Save Bethany Library) and the persistence of the young protestors were cited as contributing to the decision to keep the branches open. Lincoln City Council Chair Doug Emery assured the youngsters, “Nothing has generated as much activity as this issue. Anyone that doubts that government listens–here’s living proof that government
does listen.” Council Member Jayne Snyder encouraged the young activists to grow up and become members of the Lincoln City Council.
It was a privilege to witness the effect this announcement had on these young people and to see how this kind of success can nurture our future library advocates. Photos will be up on the Library Commission flickr account soon. Please click on comment below to share your stories of how the vitality of our libraries can be maintained, even in tough economic times.
Check out this poster from the Mayor’s office staff:
