Funding for Public Libraries Is Essential

There are many ideals, organizations and causes to fight for in this great nation of ours. Thankfully we live a society that allows the average citizen to raise concerns to their government representatives.  When this fails, citizens can take their case to the “streets” in a peaceful manner to have their voices heard.   Allow this blog to serve as a peaceful protest to gain  the  citizens attention.    Voters need to be informed on how and when government money is being spent.    When tax dollars are  spent in our Nation's capital what is the top priority?      If it is education, building up communities and supporting economic growth funding than  continuing to fund libraries should be near the top of the priorities.  
  Why is it important to bring up funding for libraries at this time?  In a nutshell, The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (also known as Labor HHS) is working on the FY 2018 appropriations bill that includes funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Additionally, the  Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program is also facing similar cuts.  Discussions have been focused on eliminating financial support to both programs which amounts to having 210 million dollars cut.  Without this financial support many urban and small libraries will have to make drastic cuts in hours, services and staffing.  In some cases, they may even have to close their doors.    Funding public Libraries would be the most responsible investment in America’s future that the current administration could make, yet they are choosing not to.    Despite what President Trump and his advisors believe, cutting funds to American libraries is striking down the core of community stability and economic advancements.
            Small, rural and urban libraries (making up 80.5% of America’s libraries) depend on LSTA funding to keep their doors open.  What it means for the citizens and patrons of the library is not only access to information in print or electronic, but also programs for lifelong learners of all age.  This includes the little ones preparing to enter preschool to senior citizens.   Libraries are the heart of every community where folks,  in good times and bad, find the one sources where information is available to everyone.  .  When looking for a job to help put food on the table to discovering what to make for dinner from a new cookbook that has just been released.  Allow me to illustrate what cuts in the LSTA  would  mean for a community similar to the one I serve just outside of Detroit.
            Cuts would mean that hours of operations would be jeopardized. This is not a threat it’s a reality.  To bring things closer to home, at one point our library was open five days, 39 hours a week.  Today,  we are at 3 days,  21 hours a week. Patrons have remote access to the library on days that are closed, but only if they have a computer at home.  Most do not.  That’s one’ of the major reasons they come to the library.  In 2011, when Detroit was experiencing the worst of economic times, due to property taxes falling, the Detroit Public Library had to close four branches.  These branches were in areas that had businesses closing, houses abandoned, and a failure in many other city services.  In short,  the surrounding community failed and thus so did the libraries.  One would think that when communities come back from hard economic times, so will their neighborhood libraries.  That’s not always the case as is proven in the Detroit Public Libraries and surrounding urban areas such as Royal Oak Township.  In areas where libraries need financial support the most government funding is often the only hope for a library.
            Resources, such as computers, books and DVDs, would also be in jeopardy.  The library has become the place where the return on investment can be seen each time patrons check out materials.   Going hand in hand with that are the computers needed for internet access allowing patrons to apply for jobs, government assistance even communicating with the local school districts about their child education The Internet has made the library a much needed resources to those who are not able to afford the luxury at home. In a sports analogy, libraries level  the field when it comes to  information access for all.
            Programs, such as the Summer Reading Programs which is just around the corner, will no longer be funded or available for children to attend.  The effects of this would be a slide downwards in reading skills across the board.  The library’s summer reading programs offer children the opportunity to keep their reading skills current during the summer which prepares them for the coming school year.  Studies have shown that children living in poor neighborhoods are less likely to have access to children books in the home.  If breaking the poverty cycle is a goal of government then keeping libraries funded and open is a good first step in that direction.
More importantly than all of the reasons just mentioned,  the library offers a safe place for kids after school.  Many of the children I serve are living in homes were both parents are working two or three jobs.  They come to the library to do homework, catch up with friends or find the right spot for them to unwind with a game or book after school.  Currently, our library closes at six and closed on weekends.  This leaves our patrons looking to use library resources in other communities.  Which can be a hassle in some cases due to lack of library privileges or as in most cases, transportation.  If the Trump administration is looking to strengthen Detroit and other metropolitan cities, it would benefit them to continue funding LSTA.  By this action alone they will be supporting one of the few institutions that support the communities’ lifelong educational needs.  If President Trump refuses to do this, then it is up to our Representatives and Senators to speak up and defend America’s greatest treasure.  The public library.

National Library Week 2014: The Inspiring Messages From The Lorax

Every child has a favorite book that they will enjoy hearing over and over again.  Those who have the pleasure of  reading the "favorite" book repeatedly have often wondered what is it about the book that lures them back.  For Alex Pereira, a real estate developer in Detroit, Michigan, his favorite was Dr. Suess' The Lorax.  Not a bad choice.  No one questions why because the good Dr.'s work has stood the test of children's critical reviews.  Why bring up one real estate developer's favorite book? It is what inspired him from that book he loved so many yard ago that is of interest.  Take a walk down Trumball and Warren area  to see Pereira's latest development in a neighborhood that is need of revitalization.   He purchased the abandoned home at 4759 Trumbull, fixed it up and made it into a tribute to The Lorax.  It's not only eye catching, it's amazing. When first learning about this house in the middle of Detroit, the thought came to mind that this proof positive that children, reading and libraries are a powerful combination.  Perhaps that was not his true intent in resting the hues in the is way but from a librarian's point of view,  this is the message to gain from this man's work.
 

Children's librarians have always championed the rights of children to have access to books.  It is for this reason, that pushing for funding for children's collection in public and school libraries is critically important to the educational growth of children. The strongest argument to supper this is that children who learn to love reading at an early age become life long learners.  An added icing on the cake is that they are more successful in schools than their peers who don't read often.  Which leads to the conclusion that every child should have access to a library.  If this is not feasible than at least have the library come to them by way of a bookmobile or school visits.  When administrators and public officials wring their hands and say that the costs of reaching out to young readers is too expensive. The right response is that not investing in them now, the costs will be staggering once these children are older.  

Detroit is one of many cities in the United States, whose public library system has been through some tough times and had to make some very tough calls.  Some of the decisions were understandable while others not so much.  Case in point, The Mark Twain library has been closed for years.  From photos taken recently the interior looks like a library graveyard   It is very disheartening because this once beautiful building stood as a landmark of the neighborhood.  In short it was a thriving library serving it's community well.  What happened?  Budget cuts for one.  Secondly, too many turned their backs and gave up on neighborhood libraries.  Siting that the internet and poor funding were the cause of library closing.  What a mistake!  The reading scores of the children in the local public schools are enough to prove that every opportunity for a child to learn to read has been taken away from them.  It would have been much better for the children of the neighborhood to have a place to go to after school, such as the library and get lost in a book.   Librarians are not the only one who believe this, parents did as well.  Yet the buildings were shut down and doors were locked.

The Lorax House in Detroit should give librarians and advocates hope and the spark need to seize on the opportunity to support their libraries.   The quote from the book that is painted on a mural outside the house is simple and speaks volumes about caring about the community.  It's simply, Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." National Library Week reminds everyone librarian,  local leaders and patrons alike that it is up to them to help support and speak up for libraries.   One man's tribute to his favorite childhood book sends a stirring message that one person and one book can make a difference.  Which brings it full circle to the idea that  the effect of three power combinations of young minds, books and libraries is nothing to be taken lightly.  No one never knows how books can stir one to action. No one can ever be certain the lasting impact one story has on a child.   One thing for sure, it can lead to something wonderful and  out of this world.

To view the Lorax House and The Mark Twain Library please click on the links below. 


http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/TheLoraxComesToWoodbridge.aspx


mark twain public library detroit