City of Philadelphia - File #: 080939

• File #: 080939
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/4/2008
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 12/4/2008
• Title: Urging Mayor Nutter to delay closing any City libraries to allow time for further analysis of the issue, to secure alternative funding sources, and to explore operational and administrative alternatives that would allow the Free Library of Philadelphia to maintain a physical presence at all of its current locations and authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding the proposed library branch closures and alternatives thereto.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Sanchez, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/4/2008	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	12:5
12/4/2008	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
12/4/2008	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Urging Mayor Nutter to delay closing any City libraries to allow time for further analysis of the issue, to secure alternative funding sources, and to explore operational and administrative alternatives that would allow the Free Library of Philadelphia to maintain a physical presence at all of its current locations and authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding the proposed library branch closures and alternatives thereto.
Body
WHEREAS, On November 6, 2008, Mayor Nutter publicly announced that eleven local branches of the Philadelphia Free Library would be closed as of January 2009 with an estimated $8 million in savings; and

WHEREAS, Public libraries are a vital community asset and a critical government service that provide access to invaluable resources to our citizens, thereby opening up the doors of opportunity and knowledge for those who would otherwise be unable to afford it; and

WHEREAS, Libraries are especially crucial in the City of Philadelphia, where our poverty rate is over 25% and our public education system drop out rate is 45%. Libraries are one of the most important tools that we can provide our citizens and children in these battles; and

WHEREAS, Many local libraries host literacy and educational programs that supplement the efforts of the Philadelphia School District, which has been reducing its own library resources. Local libraries offer such programs as LEAP, which provides free after-school homework assistance, computer literacy training, library skills, and multicultural enrichment activities for tens of thousands of Philadelphia students; and

WHEREAS, According to a study titled, "Taxpayer Return on Investment (ROI) in Pennsylvania Public Libraries," Pennsylvania taxpayers "can be confident that their direct and indirect return on their investment in public libraries is extensive at about 5.5 to 1"; and

WHEREAS, Before the drastic decision to close library branches is implemented, F...