What the fucking hell?!?!

[crowdog66]

All free libraries in Philadelphia to close October 2nd 2009.

All Free Library of Philadelphia Customers,

We deeply regret to inform you that without the necessary budgetary legislation by the State Legislature in Harrisburg, the City of Philadelphia will not have the funds to operate our neighborhood branch libraries, regional libraries, or the Parkway Central Library after October 2, 2009.

Specifically, the following will take effect after the close of business, October 2, 2009:

All branch and regional library programs, including programs for children and teens, after school programs, computer classes, and programs for adults, will be cancelled
All Parkway Central Library programs, including children programs, programs to support small businesses and job seekers, computer classes and after school programs, will be cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of relocating the Philadelphia Author Series programs to other non-library facilities.
All library visits to schools, day care centers, senior centers and other community centers will cease.
All community meetings at our branch and regional libraries, and the Parkway Central Library, will be cancelled.
All GED, ABE and ESL programs held at Free Library branches will be discontinued, students should contact their teacher to see if other arrangements are being made.

Just... outrageous. And horrible. And a tragedy for the city's poor. If the State Legislature fails to pass funding legislation to keep the libraries open, that would pretty clearly demonstrate that the needs of the general public mean nothing to them.

(With thanks to ms_daisy_cutter for bringing this to my attention.)

Comments

[spotts1701.livejournal.com]

It looks like (based on my cursory read of Pennsylvania politics), the problem is that the legislature is divided. The House is in Democratic hands, while Republicans control the state Senate.

Which would normally not be that big a problem, except that most Pennsylvania Republicans tend to be more of the reactionary types more commonly found in the deepest of the Deep South (see Santorum, Rick for an example of such a politician).

Add to that extreme polarization that is now ordinary in every state government, and you have a recipe for impasse after impasse.

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you for the clarification.

A divided legislature would indeed, from the sheer incompetence such a situation tends to create, stall on a lot of issues. It would be awful, though, if this turned out to be one such situation. Closing libraries is a horrible thing.

[silverjackal.livejournal.com]

I see spotts1701 has already explained it. That's reactionary Republicanism for you -- they don't see why anyone should have access to anything for free -- unless it's *them* of course. They also don't care if people are poor and illiterate. Actually, there wouldn't be as much of a problem if the polarization of power didn't exist -- people are squabbling for the sake of squabbling, and taking away free public libraries is a good way to upset Democrats.

[heavymetalgypsy.livejournal.com]

I can't believe people are letting this happen! Republicans need to be smacked especially here. If libraries are first, what's next, public school?

[except-europa.livejournal.com]

WOW. When you think it can't get anymore ludacris. Where is my one way ticket out of the United States? Quick before they take out public parks.

[monnialexis.livejournal.com]

That's really painful to read! It's a sad state of affairs in many areas these days. You could imagine my surprise after walking past a newspaper guy putting out stacks of Orlando Weekly, a local arts news-magazine with the headline "The Opera Is Dead!"

But seriously, LIBRARIES?!?!?!? Those are a friken community staple!

It seems that everything that isn't linked to the government and as seen at "extra curricular" is being cast off.

[bri-ecrit.livejournal.com]

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

The Free Library on the Parkway is a Philly institution, for God's sake! It's just a symbol of access to information and community and all kinds of wonderful things that our city's impoverished citizens would never otherwise obtain!

This is absolutely disgusting. First thing Monday morning, I'm marching into my university's English department and organizing some kind of protest. I will not sit idly by and watch my city become a poster-child for knowledge as a prime casualty of a failing economy.

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

I guess this just proved my point; Republicans DON'T read. ;)
(no offense to any Republicans)