Fund the Damn Library Already

The Seattle Public Library has had inadequate city funding for collections since the turn of this century. To help Council members understand why the library must have full funding we need to do two things: 1) Get a massive email campaign going right now (The final budget hearing is 30 Oct) and 2) Get a turnout at City Council Chambers at that final hearing.

Here is the basic email message we'd like to send to council members:
The public demonstrated overwhelming support for its libraries when it approved Libraries For All. If you voted for LFA please tell your council members this and ask City government to demonstrate its commitment by fully investing in our expanded public library system. Otherwise just let them know that Seattle voters committed to libraries by passing that bond issue and you'd like city council to make an equal committment by fully funding the expanded library system.

The collections shortfall this year is $2.5 million. Please state that exact amount in your request for full funding of the library's acquisition, maintenance, and access needs. Please urge the Council to fill that gap this year. Circulation is up 60% since 2000 when LFA provided money for new and rennovated libraries. We must meet patron demand. If you've had experience with books worn from constant recirculation or long hold lists or old computer software at the library this is a good place for a specific example of how prolonged lack of investment is affecting you.

Please close by thanking council members for their past library support.
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Here are the councilmember addresses:
Peter.Steinbrueck@seattle.gov
Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov
Nick.Licata@seattle.gov
David.Della@seattle.gov
Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov
Sally.Clark@seattle.gov
Richard.McIver@seattle.gov
Jan.Drago@seattle.gov
Jean.Godden@seattle.gov

Seattle's council is made up of non partisan positions so please email all councilmembers. They're all people we vote for in general elections. Speaking of elections. We have an election coming up have you had a chance to peruse the candidate responses to our questions about their stand on SPL? That and additional details about SPL's budget woes can be found at http://www.splfriends.org

You can also email in at that time to budget@seattle.gov but I think the calls are more impactful. This is an easy thing for supporters to do if they can't make it downtown that night and it's very helpful. For more about the hearing: go to http://www.seattle.gov/leg/pdf/budget071030secondph.pdf If for some reason you can't access this pdf directly find it at:
http://www.seattle.gov/council/budget/2public_hearings.htm The hearing starts at 5:30. For anyone driving downtown to the hearing there is a parking garage called SeaPark just up the hill from City Hall between cherry and james and 5th and 6th. Tell the attendant that you've been there for the hearing and you park for just $3. The hearing is in City Hall 600 fourth avenue second floor in City Council chambers. Hearings are fun. They're a fascinating look at how public input works in this city and who comes out to talk to their elected officials.

Please keep me updated if you locate people who can come down on Tues 30 Oct to support the library either through speaking or holding a Fill Our Shelves sign. We can meet people in the lobby if they have cell contact otherwise I can be found at the top of the staircase to City Council chambers wearing a bright green t shirt that says Friends of the Library. Your help in identifying people that could join us that night would be deeply appreciated. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Turnout is going to make the difference.

Image courtesy of thea superstarr.