Libraries Face Cuts Even As Need Grows -- Patrons to Testify before City Council Saturday

Siobhan Reardon, Director of the Free Library Administration, testified on Tuesday that Philadelphia' library system is downsizing its schedule even though demand for its essential services is skyrocketing during the recession.
Fishtown has over 20% unemployment, more people need our libraries than ever, and they are cutting our funding?said Andrew Christman, a Fishtown parent. Our local nursery school has had to cancel its children' programming at the library, even though new parents are our fastest growing group of library card users.”
There has been a 50% increase in library card registrations for teens in the past year alone, and The Coalition to Save the Libraries has been holding library card drives at threatened branches, registering scores of new patrons.
Members of the Coalition to Save the Libraries who see the cost of library cuts first-hand will be testifying before City Council on Saturday, at 10am in City Hall, Room 400.
City Council and the Mayor need to restore the $8 million cut from our local branches. The schools are not up to par in the community, and the children need those libraries.said Sheila Washington, from the Haddington neighborhood.
Damon K. Roberts, real-estate lawyer and member of the Coalition to Save the Libraries, agrees, If City Council votes against our libraries, every family is going to hold them responsible on Election Day for increasing drop-out rates, unemployment, and crime in our communities.”
Parents, patrons, and students from libraries across Philadelphia will testify with the Coalition to Save the Libraries before City Council on Saturday, May 9th, 10:00AM, in Council Chambers (City Hall, Room 400).