I’m going to do something I haven’t done in a very long time. And actually, before I start, I should be clear that I am writing this on my own personal time and my own personal computer. The why will become evident soon.
This really only affects you if you live in the City of Los Angeles. Some things you should know about me. I’m a public librarian. I manage one of the 73 branches in the Los Angeles Public Library system. It’s the largest public library system in the country.
It’s also hurting greatly.
And that’s why I’m writing this. On the ballot for next Tuesday’s election, there is a measure up for vote. Measure L. You can find out the basic information about the measure here: Measure L Information
Basically Measure L will increase the portion of the City’s budget that the Library receives from 1% to 3%. This will happen over a 4 year period. The funds will be used to restore the library hours, which were cut from 7 day service to 5 day service. It’ll be used to restore some (not all) the staff that were laid off last year. Due to the massive shortfall of the City’s budget last fiscal year, there were over 700 people laid off across the City. The Library system accounted for 1 in 7 over the layoff. L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti Claims Library Cuts Went ‘Under the Radar’ — Despite 10,000 Postcards to His Office, Billboard in His District This is the first time in the history of the Library system that 7 day service is not available. Even during the Great Depression, LAPL offered 7 day service.
A few things you should know about Measure L:
1. It is not a new tax. That one’s kind of important. You should know that what you pay in taxes will not at all be affected by this measure.
2. Last fiscal year the Mayor required 2 departments to take on all their operating costs. The Library Department was one of those 2 departments. That’s about 20 million dollars. Yup. MILLION. It takes a lot to run 73 branches. So whether or not L passes, that’s 20 million dollars we’re going to have to pay. And if L fails, well, people are going to get laid off and branches are going to close.
3. The Police Union and The League of Women Voters are against L. The Police Union for a couple reasons. One, because they kind of hate Bernard Parks. And two because they say that public safety will lose money if L passes. I’d just like to point out that police and fire get approximately 70% of the entire City budget. And they’re currently about 10 million dollars over in just their salary costs. 18 City Departments Could Be Combined $31.9M Over Salary Budgets (notice that the Library is not on that list? We’re the ONLY department in the City that stays within it’s budget every single year.) The Police Union claims that public safety will be adversely affected. But tell me, don’t you think that having a safe place like, oh, I don’t know, a library, increases public safely? Just a thought. The League of Women Voters calls it ballot box budgeting. Which it may be. But unfortunately, we really don’t have much other choice. And it was the City Council who proposed the Measure.
Some of you are probably saying, yeah, well it’s in your own self interest to push this. Yes. Of course it is. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
So please, if you live in Los Angeles, I would really greatly appreciate it if you would please consider voting Yes on Measure L next Tuesday, March 8.
“the founding of libraries was like constructing more public granaries, amassing reserves against a spiritual winter which by certain signs, in spite of myself, i see ahead.”
-hadrian’s memoirs, tellus stabilita
You bring up some great points and I love my local libraries but I really hope this measure does not pass.
The LA Times wrote a great opinion peace on this measure. We would all love to keep the libraries open but we have to get real. We would likely not be facing this problem if the libraries were not expanded years earlier.
“The problem with Measure L, though, is that it asks the question about library funding in artificial isolation. Dedicating more money to the library system without increasing overall city revenues means that other functions of city government will have to receive less. In the abstract, cutting library hours seems hard to defend. But what if the alternative is to hire fewer police officers, or to cut gang-intervention efforts, or to make new businesses wait longer for permits, or to close down graffiti-removal programs?”
http://articles.latimes.com/20…
Is the reason we still need libraries. People who read well-written books know when to use one word or the other. They are different.
I was not a latch-key kid. But I spent summers at the Redondo Beach library. I devoured that place shelf by shelf. My life-long love of reading has served me well in school and at work. It’s still my favorite recreational pastime.
And, though I read a lot online, there’s nothing like holding a book in bed, relaxing in the bath (where I’d be nervous about an electronic reader), on the porch swing, or curled up in front of the fireplace. I spend all day in front of a computer for work. I like to get away from the screen. I like the portability and heft of books. Sticking bookmarks in, paging back and forth if I forget something, and even the feel of turning the pages. And I like it that they work even when the power goes out or I’m not close to my DSL router.
That said, I’ve read enough of your posts to suspect that you’re being snarky in your recommendation of where the money should go. To those of us who love libraries, it’s not funny.
Is the reason we still need libraries. People who read well-written books know when to use one word or the other. They are different.
I was not a latch-key kid. But I spent summers at the Redondo Beach library. I devoured that place shelf by shelf. My life-long love of reading has served me well in school and at work. It’s still my favorite recreational pastime.
And, though I read a lot online, there’s nothing like holding a book in bed, relaxing in the bath (where I’d be nervous about an electronic reader), on the porch swing, or curled up in front of the fireplace. I spend all day in front of a computer for work. I like to get away from the screen. I like the portability and heft of books. Sticking bookmarks in, paging back and forth if I forget something, and even the feel of turning the pages. And I like it that they work even when the power goes out or I’m not close to my DSL router.
That said, I’ve read enough of Mr. LaPuente’s posts to suspect that you’re being snarky in your recommendation of where the money should go. To those of us who love libraries, it’s not funny.
At present we are going to present the present.
Insane language.