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Prov Library protest set for Thursday

 EMBATTLED INSTITUTION: The PPL's hybrid structure - a private organization with a public mission - sparks competing claims of who best speaks for its interests.In the latest installment of the long-running debate over the future of the Providence Public Library, the Library Reform Group has an action planned later this week:

PRESS CONFERENCE:

PPL PROPOSED AGREEMENT with CITY is FLAWED!
THE MAYOR AND PPL NEED TO
GO BACK AND FIX IT!

On Thursday, July 24, at 5:00 p.m., the Library Reform Group will hold a press conference outside the former Washington Park Branch Library building at 1316 Broad Street to bring to public attention the provisions of the Agreement for Library Services approved last week by the PPL Board of Trustees THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED before the Providence City Council ratifies this multi-year library services contract between PP Library and the City. 

1 The PPL-City proposed Agreement potentially commits taxpayers to REDUCED SERVICES and BRANCH CLOSURES following the 2008-2009 program year.  Yet the Agreement obligates the City to provide PPL with the SAME AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY regardless of reduction in services or branch locations!                      
 DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?  NO!  GO BACK AND FIX IT!

2 Also, demand that the Washington Park Branch Library is immediately reopened at its original location, (recently renovated), with full library services!  The property sits un-used, ready for program use and PPL has made no effort to return its library programs to the building this year.

THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR LIBRARY SERVICES IS DANGEROUSLY FLAWED AND DOES NOT SERVE  THE BEST INTERESTS OF LIBRARY PATRONS, STAFF OR PROVIDENCE TAXPAYERS AFTER 2009!!

Press conference organizers include:
Mount Pleasant Friends of the Library,  Smith Hill Friends, the Rochambeau Friends of the Library and the Library Reform Group.

  • joe bernstein said:

    The library and its branches are a vital city resource-access to computers for those who cannot afford them;homework space free of distractions for students;cool(or warm) space for the elderly and infirm in temperature extremes with reading material available;and centers for literacy-this is a hell of a lot more important than waterfire or similar bread and circus events.

    This and public transportation are two areas where I find myself on the same side as some people I usually militate against.

    I have great memories of the Brooklyn Public Library and what I learned from that institution.

    July 22, 2008 3:57 PM
  • Bobblehead said:

    I don't know how the library can continue to operate with a straight face. To borrow from the urban dictionary, the trustees of the PPL "Jumped The Shark" when they closed the important Empire Street entrance. I don't trust anything the trustees say and the idea that they would continue to receive the same stipend from the city, while not promising to return the same services is kind of bush league.

    July 23, 2008 9:16 PM

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