The Final Rally to Save the Library!…Sunday, March 6th
Our Local Library on Hillhurst Ave. is in danger of more cutbacks. Here’s how you can change that…Join the”…Keep the Magic of Libraries Alive” Measure L Rally and Magic Show. Vote yes on Measure L.
Where: LA High Memorial Park (in front of Memorial Branch Library)
4625 W. Olympic Blvd. LA, CA 90019 .
Authors, speakers, musicians, and more! Fun for the whole family!
Please take a moment to vote YES on Measure L next Tuesday, March 8…And pass this along to your friends, family and co-workers!
The city libraries of Los Angeles needs your support. Please get
yourself to the polls and vote. You can make a difference.
What is Measure L? Measure L is a City Charter amendment, which means it’s not a new tax. It means that you are telling the City of Los
Angeles to give ONE more PENNY per $100 of taxes paid to the library
department. Since 1878, voters have done this for the library five
times; most recently in 1999.
A voter-approved charter amendment will guarantee that neighborhood libraries will receive a dedicated and consistent percent of the city’s budget. Last year, the Los Angeles City Council and the Mayor did nothing to protect libraries and the services libraries provide to the public. In fact, the library was hit with the biggest cuts of any city department.
The Library laid off 28% of the staff and the budget was cut by $22
million dollars, the result of these losses: reduced hours, closure on
Sundays and Mondays, fewer programs and less assistance for residents. With over 18 million visitors last year, the library is one of the busiest destinations in the city! It’s truly a shame that the cuts
were made.
This charter amendment increases the library’s already guaranteed
share of city funds from .0175% to .03% over four years. As the
funding becomes available, the library will resume its 6-day service
at all 73 libraries and Sunday service will be restored to 9
libraries, all by 2015. Additionally, our materials budget and
staffing will be restored.
Right now, the amount of property taxes that go to libraries is just
under 2 cents per $100. And, to place the amount into perspective, you may compare it to police department funding, which receives about $67 per $100 of property tax paid.
Many social and cultural institutions are facing cuts right now, and
the library is no different. If Measure L does not pass, the city
library will face an additional $28 million cut, which will mean
further reduced hours, closures of 2/3 of the branches, reduced
programs, a slashed materials budget and of course, fewer librarians.
Libraries improve property values, are crime deterrents and provide
much, much needed access to computers and books all over this city. They teach literacy to adults and children and are advocates for learning, self empowerment and discovery. They teach people how to access information and show them the tools they need to achieve.
Libraries are essential to daily life for residents all over the city.
The services we provide range from computer access to look for jobs
and retain employment, to providing books needed for homework, to
giving guidance on how to do research for homework, to being a safe
place for kids to go after school, to programming that fuels the
imagination and expand the boundaries of participants.
Vote Yes on L and save Los Angeles from the distinction of becoming
the only major American city without a public library system.
Thank you!
Comments (1)
Vote yes on L and LA Bonge, the candidate who cares about his
constituents. Don’t be fooled by You Tube.