Closing Libraries in Impoverished Neighbourhoods, c or d?

I don't get why this is a big deal. I mean, everyone knows poor people don't read, right?

classic as long as they just give the books away to the residents

When the Hackney libraries went on strike, it was weeks before anyone really noticed that the one on Hoxton St had closed!

Everyone knows artists don't read books!

oh well, at least we don't have to think about taking DRASTIC measures, like eliminating the business tax, or giving huge property tax concessions so that big companies can open call centres here and then we can have a ribbon cutting ceremony where the mayor brags about bringing 600 jobs to the city, 600 part-time, low-paying, benefit-free, so shitty you quit after three weeks jobs. What a guy. And he's apparantly more popular than the Pope.

Sir Dudley of Duddington. They're doing it in Frankfurt too.

Helsinki City recently tried to close a few of the smaller suburb libraries because of budget cuts, but the residents gave big protests and demonstrations, and the plan was cancelled. Of course, reading has always been held in high esteem in Finland (according to studies Finns read more than any other nations).

i just can't finish my books as fast as they can.

if city hall burns down, you guys will be my alibi, right?

right?

Just to be perverse... classic!

After all, poor people are poorly organized, poorly educated, poorly employed and generally powerless either to defend their privileges or to retaliate against their opponents, therefore abusing them from a safe position of power is fabulously classic. At least, this has been the rule throughout history, including classical times.

haha there was a thread about Newham libraries a while back, if yr Newham council then the answer is 'classic'

I am so useless at taking the books back I think Wandsworth is getting more out of me in fines than council tax.

Hey hey hey, they're not just closing down three inner city branchs, they're also shutting down the Dunlop Art Gallery and "significantly restructuring" the Prairie History Room. What a proud day!

How much of a drain on resources could the Dunlop Gallery be? The only physical space it takes up is two rooms. It's not a good idea. Closing libraries in impoverished neighborhoods isn't a good idea.

You need to vote for Paul Martin so that he can reorganize the financial relationship between cities and other levels of government and save Canada.

from the Canadian Union of Public Employees website (oddly, there's nothing on the City's page about this)

Regina library workers stunned by proposed cuts to services

[November 26, 2003] Regina: The Director of the Regina Public Library served notice to library employees today that, effective March 1, 2004, public services provided
by the library will be dramatically reduced.

The Dunlop Art Gallery and three library branches - Connaught, Prince of Wales and Glen Elm - will be closed effective that date and the Prairie History Room will be
significantly restructured. The Director says that the closures will result in the loss of twenty-seven full and part time jobs.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1594 represents 195 library workers in Regina. Union president Donna Wilde says that, in the union’s view, it’s
unconscionable that the Library Director and Board would make such a devastating announcement based on a projected budget shortfall and apparently without
advocating to retain and even expand existing services. “Our members are in shock,“ she said. “We know that the services we provide are a vital part of our
community and we are stunned that the Library Board seems so ready to gut those services and to create terrible turmoil in our members’ lives.”

The union will do what it thinks the Library Board should be doing – that is, develop a plan to build on existing services and work to ensure that the money is there to
support those services. Wilde says she is confident that the citizens of Regina will support such a plan. She adds that the union will take some time to meet with
various community groups and will be prepared to make a detailed public announcement within the next week.
- 30 –

Were you at the Save the Dunlop rally?

when a library closes, how do they deal with ppl who've borrowed books? If you want to steal a book isn't just before a library closes the ideal time to do it?

no, I couldn't get out of work, dk.

closing libraries with high patronage and/or drastically cutting the most popular services is often the only way to draw any attention to local politicians' frequent policy of decimating library budgets at the first sign of any general municipal budget crunch. The idea is to hit the community residents where it hurts by taking away popular services that they often take for granted. Sucks, but it can be the only way to avoid a slow dismantling of the entire library system--if enough angry residents complain to their elected officials, the library becomes a less convenient target.

Library closures part of long-term plan
Report wants shift from community to malls

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

A plan to close three libraries is part of a long-term strategy to shift library branches from community
locations into suburban shopping malls, according to a report prepared by the director of the Regina Public
Library (RPL) last fall.

According to Re-structured RPL:2004, which library director Sandy Cameron submitted to the RPL board at
a special budget meeting in November, the long-term facilities plan includes a strategy "to locate one
15,000 square foot full-service branch at each point of the compass, associated with retail shopping
centres."

The report, which was made available to the public as part of a judicial review hearing taking place later this
week, says the library is indeed facing very serious budget shortfalls, but that the changes will go ahead
even if the library receives extra funding, and that any additional money would go to develop and sustain
the new plan.

The report goes on to say that even if council approves a $300,000 tax increase, "it would not be
recommended that such unanticipated funding be used to re-open any of the eliminated cost centres."

In a list of pros and cons to closing the Glen Elm, Connaught and Prince of Wales libraries, the Dunlop Art
Gallery and Prairie History Room, the report acknowledges that the decisions will be "politically difficult" and
that some branches have "vocal influential support."

Other cons include that Glen Elm serves a medium to low income population and a growing aboriginal
population, that Connaught Branch is a "successful, well-used branch" and that the Dunlop Art Gallery
would be "lengthy and complicated to wind down."

Nicole O'Byrne, a lawyer and member of the Friends of the Regina Public Library, says the report is
important because it shows why the decisions were made and makes public a long-term strategy -- to move
away from community libraries -- that people should know about.

"We didn't have a say until now because we didn't know the reason until now," she said, adding the report
was only released through the court process. "This shows a fundamental shift in the direction of library
service, and no public consultation went into that."

Cameron could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Merrilee Rasmussen, a spokesperson for the Friends of the Regina Public Library, says the report shows a
different motive than the library board presented in the past, and indicates a lack of accountability that has
angered the group since the beginning.

"I think this shows the most important reason in the board's mind isn't the money," she said. "When you
make a fundamental shift that will change the Regina Public Library from how it's been for the last 100
years, you have an obligation to consult the community."

The group are also expressing concern over the Task Force Submission Policy, which they say precludes a
large number of people from participating by requiring members of the public to make submissions two
weeks in advance if they want to speak at public meetings.

During Thursday's hearing, a judge will look at the whether to put any library changes on hold and review
whether the decisions were made fairly and according to proper procedure.