Death of the Library

[CWR (Fan of Culture)]

Today I was given what could be the most frightening information I could ever get hold of in the respect of our independence as individual Americans. The Pennsylvania state budget proposal ( S.B.) 850 has planned to heavily cut state funding to the Greatest device we have as a Free Nation, our libraries. As this Nation’s recession digs deeper and everyone of us feel the pain, our lawmaking body tries to find ways to slash costs. Those governing the budget have now set their sights on education as an easy way to eliminate expenses. We all understand that concessions need implemented. We all understand everyone must bear this weight to make it through to better days. Nevertheless, what S.B. 850 is proposing could bring 90% of the States libraries to their knees. Most of these libraries are small town hubs holding our collective knowledge on their shelves and in their care. Most work with very little allowance as it is. Now they could be as good as gone if what is proposed passes without resistance.


Ever since our Country started down this road to recession, our government has coddled the few to pacify their vociferous notions of sure doom. We hand them Billions upon Billions of dollars to keep life going the same. It has not worked and now we are left with reducing our Nation to ignorance one Grand State at a time. Taking from the People, yet again, to please those most likely responsible for this disaster. We have to draw a line HERE, to stop this offense against our foundation of free knowledge. We have to stand up for our rights as a State, as a People and say no to the death of the common peoples institute for learning !


“We learn by doing” Our Free Library system allows us to learn without censorship, and to do what is necessary to prosper. In this ever-perplexing world, information is the monarch of all. Facts change, new exploration becomes known and fresh ideas surface. Knowledge moves faster today then any other time in history, and without our libraries, we will be left behind. All forward movement in this State could end. The people will lose unrestricted excess to information, which can and will lead to oppression of thought. Our children will suffer with only a generalized education, again governed by the state. They will surely sink ever more into the mud of inequality, with out a free library system.


Not only will this affect our education, it will affect service’s for unemployment benefits, it will drastically reduce federal funding to the tone of 3.8 million dollars, needed funds to keep our libraries operating at the minimum costs they work at now.

This is the moments you as A Pennsylvanian you as Americans you as a Human beings must stand and defy the power that keeps stripping us of our freedoms. This can only be a true democracy if each and every voice is heard. Without the public library, our voices will be oppressed and this is the slide into tyranny.

I beg of you to call EVERY State Senator and Representative over the Memorial Day break, Explain to him or her you will not allow our foundation of free thought to collapse without a fight. If you do not stand and be counted the doors for hundreds of free libraries will close, and a better future will disappear along with it.





Here are the proposed reductions in S.B.850 (Senate Republican Proposal for FY2009-10)

Public library subsidy $75,750,000 reduced to $ 37,000,000 a cut of 51.2 %

Library access (POWER statewide interlibrary deliver) $ 3,792,000 reduced to $0 a cut of 100%

Office of Commonwealth libraries(includes State operations)$ 4,846,000 reduced to $2,396,000 a cut of 50.6%

Library services for impaired & Disabled $2,976,000 reduced to $2,926,000 a cut of 1.7%

Electronic Library Catalog (ASK Here Pa. Access Pa database)$3,792,000 reduced to $ 1,771,000 a cut of 53.3%

A total cut of $44,093,000 plus Federal of $3,8000,000

Sincerely

Charles Wills Redman Jr.

Liberty Pa.

[CWR (Fan of Culture)]

As a child,I was illiterate and no one seems it care. My first job was at the library, and I sadly was surrounded by a wealth of knowledge but was poor in the ability to receive it. I had feelings of right, but was unable to fight those that had the upper hand. Not until in my 30’s were I able to overcome my fettered mind. Only books cared to break the chains of ignorance. I owe all to those shacks of books in the library, and I mean to fight for their survival. Let your stories move others to realize what not having excess to a library means to you, and save these hallowed grounds of freedom. I Thank each of you that is in earshot of my entreaty. I ask only for you to use your good judgment and feel with your heart.

[GHASEM BATAMUNTU]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY VITAL INFORMATION...WE REALLY MUST CONNECT THE EFOORTS OF OUR CONCERNS TO LET A VOICE OF OPPOSITION BE CONSIDERED IN THESE MATTERS...IT COST US A LOT OF MONEY TO EXIST IN THESE MODERN STATES...THE POOER YOU ARE THE MORE EXPENSIVE...I BELIEVE THE PHEASE IS..."NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION..." WE LOOSE FREE ACCESS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE AND OUR CHILDREN WILL PAY THE PRICE OF A LOST FUTURE...WE PAY SO MUCH MONEY TO BE HERE...I AM SURE WE ARE MILLIONARES IN OUR LIFE TIME EXPENDITURES...WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?...WHAT IS THE BIGGER PICTURE?????

[Kevin Hurst, Sr.]

My mom used to give me a quarter to go downtown across the street from the main department store to get a slice of pizza and a coke. One block away was the Pa. state library all the buildings which our tax money subsidize. We never thought about all the books, magazines and information we could have accessed and were never told about it. When I could not take gym in the 7th grade I was in the library and read all the sports magazines folks subscribed to. In PITT's music library I copied fakebook charts for a quarter in the 70s. Today I use the computer near my son's job at the Westmoreland Co. library and give a donation each time. They want to cut staffing at the state library, maybe they could use middle school student /volunteers and train them for a possible career. A friend of mine's daughter volunteered at the state museum when she was 11, 12 , and they created a position for her when she was old enough to work. We pay $38 a year in real estate tax for the Dauphin Co. library system here in Harrisburg. I am sure I have never been in one yet remember my mom taking us to a dry cleaning self serve place that had an library extension next door. My son grew up a reader and read for leisure as well as info. Him and my neighbor's kids lived in libraries, my neighbor told me she could not keep hers out! We need libraries as they are the most interactive a person can get.- kev

[CWR (Fan of Culture)]

Call your State Rep's and Senators. Pass on the info and send anyone concerned my way. This Proposal, was put together with very little fan fare, and they thought it would pass just the same. Little time is left this proposal is under consideration mid June to pass the Fy 2009 Budget.

I thank you for your concern, and hope to hear from you again.

Sincerely,

CWR

Contact your local library to give support or contact the Connellsville Pa. 15425 Library, the grass roots center at

Mailing Address

299 South Pittsburgh St Connellsville, PA 15425 Phone [phone] Fax [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

[Jerry Lucarelli]

Nelson,
Thanks for the info on the libraries. I will definitely contact my Reps over the
weekend to make the point for the libraries.
Thanks,
Jerry L.

[timm coxx]

not good news at all. what can we do?