From: "LVN" To: "James O. Whitlock" Subject: Re: [bpp-editors] add to calendar important item & why libraries are important Date: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 5:45 PM Here I have pasted the justification that Elizabeth Berry has created for preserving our libraries. It is based on the Green Values, which, I believe, are good values for all of us humankind types. Is there anywhere that this could be available on the site for the edification of the skeptical reader? If so please feel free to do it. WHY IS SAVING THE LIBRARIES AN Important ISSUE? 1. We believe in "investing in education" - Our current public library system is our best source of equitable self-education, and a valuable resource to our school systems. How will our life-long learners that do not attend school continue to learn about environmental issues without accessible libraries? Where will our kids go to get homework help? 2. We believe in "containing sprawl & revitalizing our cities" - If Buffalo libraries are closed, our city neighborhoods will suffer a loss of quality of life, probably increasing flight from the city (sprawl) to the suburbs, to our rapidly disappearing rural landscape, or out of the area, shrinking our tax rolls. Communities around the country are becoming part of a pro-neighborhood, anti-sprawl movement, while our library system is proposing moving in the opposite direction! 3. We believe in "preserving neighborhoods" - With TWO Buffalo libraries slated to close to open ONE (and more threatened), neighborhoods are being threatened with a loss of quality of life. A library that is open is an asset to the community - a library that is closed is a detriment to the community. 4. We believe in "keeping libraries accessible" - Information is for everyone! Neighborhood libraries are outposts of information, like convenience stores - not superstores. If libraries are not accessible, their services do no good. According to WNY transportation experts, 40% of ADULTS in Buffalo have no access to cars. (That’s not counting all the children who don’t.) 5. We believe in "strengthening recycling" - Our current public library system is a model of reuse and recycling - millions of books are used hundreds, even thousands of times, then, even when they’re determined to be outdated, they are put up for sale to the public at nominal prices. That’s a hard act to follow. 6. We believe in "fighting racism, sexism, ageism" - Our current public libraries are equal opportunity services open to all. If Buffalo libraries close, many in those neighborhoods will not get that equal opportunity to access information. 7. We believe in "Decentralization" - The Erie County Library Board’s (BECPL’s) move to close 2 neighborhood libraries is the opposite - centralization/consolidation. 8. We believe in "grassroots democracy" - All suburban libraries have their own boards, and contracts with the BECPL, so they make many of their own decisions. The Buffalo libraries already have lost that power, having no board or contract, and are often thought to be the "poor relations" of our suburban libraries. 9. We "support mass transit" - Most, if not all current libraries are on well-used public transportation routes and placed in residential neighborhoods where many walk or bike to them. Forcing people to get into cars to go to "centralized" libraries is unenvironmental. 10. We believe in "social & economic justice" - Many library users in Buffalo, including children, would not be able to access a library if their neighborhood library was closed. If they could, it would be an added financial burden many will not be able to afford - to get to and from a "centralized" library outside of their safe neighborhood. Instead of walking to their neighborhood library at NO COST, a family of 5 (2 parents, 1 child over 12, and 2 children 5- 11) would pay $11.60 round-trip for the privilege of visiting the library, (assuming they could get to it, since crosstown buses have been cut)! It is also an unfair double standard to replace suburban libraries ONE for ONE, while consolidating Buffalo libraries by closing TWO or more to open ONE.