Troy (Michigan) Public Library Threatened With Closure

Troy Public Library

Link to Patti Abbott's February 24, 2010, blogpost, "Shame on voters in Troy, Michigan".

Excerpt:    Allow me one rant--first in a long time-- although I promised myself to resist political posting. I just need to get this off my chest. I reserve the right to remove this post should I need to.

The city of Troy, Michigan will close its library, nature center, community center and museum and lay off 47 police officers after voters rejected a tax hike yesterday. This is not an isolated case, of course. Not even in southeastern Michigan.

Shame on the people who led this anti-tax charge. Don't they understand with property values falling, local governments have to raise money somehow? Institutions like those cut in Troy are important to society. We are already stripping the schools of every enhancement activity. And now comes community institutions.

Link to February 24 Detroit News about the vote.  No tally is given.  But Retiring Guy did find a summary at the Michigan 9th Congressional District Republican Party website.

Troy’s proposed 1.9-mill increase was snuffed by voters in most of the city’s polling locations following spirited campaigns both for and against the proposed increase.

With 19 of 19 locations counted, no votes outnumbered yes votes 12,631 to 7,316.

Whoa, mama, not even close.

Link to City of Troy video, "What do I get in return for my property taxes?"  (From 2008)

And then there's this, from CNN Money's 2008 "Best Places to Live".

Well, at least they'll have the low property taxes.

A Time When Public Libraries Weren't Open and Free to All

The McComb Public Library today

Main branch for the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System

Link to April 15 Jackson Clarion-Ledger article, "50 years of social change".

Excerpt: The plan that summer day in 1961 was for 22 students to protest a law banning black residents from using the public library in McComb.

But the library was closed. And instead of 22 students, Hollis Watkins and Curtis Hayes were the only ones to show up at the meeting place, a local office of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Instead of staging a sit-in at the library, they decided to target the local Woolworth store.

"We would not be defeated. We knew Woolworth was right down the street and had a lunch counter that we couldn't eat at,'' recalled Watkins, then a 19-year-old college-bound student. "We wanted to let them know we were not afraid to go to jail.''

[Found while looking for articles on tornado damage.]

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board Chair Speaks Out

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Link to April 17 Charlotte Observer "For the Record" column by Robin Branstrom, "Deep library cuts would imperil commmunity jewel".

Excerpt:      We are living in unprecedented times in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. After decades of prosperity, we have entered an era of scarcity, which is being profoundly felt by people who rely on our public libraries for educational and enrichment opportunities.

Since January 2009, library funding has been reduced by more than 20 percent. Investments in books and computers have been slashed, classes and storytimes eliminated, salaries reduced and 120 employees laid off. Most recently, library hours were curtailed significantly.

These reductions have affected everyone - first and foremost, those who use the library as an educational resource: toddlers benefiting from literacy programs; youths receiving homework assistance; college and vocational students using library computers and resources to support their coursework; adults and senior citizens using the library to continue their education; and job seekers who use library resources for career enhancement and job searching. And, of course, library staff, many of whom saw their work at the library as career and mission.

Related articles:
County commissioners seek ways to ease library cuts.  (4/23/2010)
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit.  (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task.  (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours.  (4/6/2010)
"Save Our Libraries Sunday".  (3/29/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg users owe average of 55 cents in fines.  (3/27/2010)
Library announces new hours for branches.  (3/26/2010)
Library Board applies a Band-Aid to its bleeding system.  (3/25/2010)
Follow-up on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board vote.  (3/25/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board votes to keep all branches open.  (3/24/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board presented with 2 budget-cutting alternatives.  (3/24/2010)
More and bigger cuts looming on horizon. (3/23/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Rethinks Closings. (3/22/2010)
A New Day is Dawning in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. (3/21/2010)

Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven't seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression. (3/17/2010)