Protesters want Providence library to transfer ownership of branches. (Providence Journal, 5/13/2011)
Excerpt: “Save the libraries, (again)!”
“Do the right thing.”
Holding these signs and others, more than 70 supporters of the city’s neighborhood libraries protested Thursday outside of the central branch on Empire Street.
They want the Providence Public Library — which operated the branches as a nonprofit organization until 2009 — to honor an alleged agreement to transfer ownership of seven buildings that house branch libraries to the city. The PPL has leased the seven buildings to the city for $1 per year for the last two years, but the rental agreement expires June 30.
“My concern is I don’t know what will happen [after that date],” said Marcus Mitchell. He leads the Providence Community Library, a separate nonprofit organization that took over managing all the city branches (there are nine in all, but seven are under the lease agreement) for Providence from the central library group. The city subleases the buildings to the PCL, or neighborhood group. “They could lock us out, sell the buildings, anything,” Mitchell said.
Related article:
New administrative structure, same old building maintenance issues. (10/16/2010)
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