Journals of Journeys Journals of Spiritual, Emotional and Life-Altering Journeys

Keep It Open: Butte County Libraries

From Susan Davis, Treasurer of Chico Friends of the Library.

I want to let you know just how the Butte County Supervisors' proposed cut in library funding will probably reduce the library's open hours to as few as 12-20 hours a week.

If this happens, the conference room simply will not be available for more than 75 clubs and organizations who use this room each month.

Please ... write, E-mail, or telephone any or all of the County supervisors asking them to reconsider their priorities.  Although they have difficult decisions to make, they seem to forget the great importance of libraries to everyone, especially during difficult economic times.

Enclosed (follows) is a flyer the Friends are giving out which shows each Supervisor's mail and E-Mail address and their telephone number.
It's OUR library, please help keep it open!

Will your library be here after June?

• Butte County Library funding is proposed to be cut in half beginning July 1
  • From $3.1 million in June 2008 to $1.5 million for fiscal year 2009-2010 which starts this July
  • From 39 staff to 13 staff (1 staff member per 17,000 county residents -- the worst ratio in the state!)
• Hours will be reduced 71% - from a total of 219 hours to only 60 hours
  • 12 hours per week each for Chico, Oroville, Paradise and Gridley, 6 hours each for Durham & Biggs 
  • Community meeting room availability will be limited to library hours or eliminated
• Library services will be bare bones
  • Elimination of reference desk, Literacy Coach, Bookmobile, Books by Mail and requests from other branches or library systems
  • Restrictions in children's programs, online databases and computer access
  • No budget for books, magazines or newspapers

KEEP IT OPEN!

• Call or write to your Butte County Supervisor.
  • Ask that library funding not be cut further than the current 23% and to restore funds a.s.a.p.
  • Ask them to support a ballot measure that could provide stable funding for our libraries
• Attend the May 19th, 2009 County Supervisor's Meeting (according to website, the meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. and agendas are posted prior which can be found here: http://www.buttecounty.net/Clerk%20of%20the%20Board/Board%20Meeting%20Information.aspx)  
  • Location: County Government Center, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville
  • Wear red, speak up
  • Bring every library supporter you know with you
• Purchase and install a license plate holder - KEEP IT OPEN!
• Support your local Friends of the Library group
• Your tax deductible donation can purchase books, furniture, equipment and support special programs
• BUTTE CO LIBRARY

Butte County Supervisors:
Dist. 1: Bill Connelly
538-6834
bconnelly@buttecounty.net
5280 Lower Wyandotte Road
Oroville, CA 95966

Dist. 2: Jane Dolan
891-2830
jdolan@buttecounty.net
196 Memorial Way
Chico, CA 95926

Dist. 3: Maureen Kirk
891-2800
mkirk@buttecounty.net
196 Memorial Way
Chico, CA 95926

Dist. 4: Steve Lambert
538-2514
slambert@buttecounty.net
3159 Nelson Road
Oroville, CA 95965

Dist. 5: Kim Yamaguchi
872-6304
kyamaguchi@buttecounty.net
747 Elliot Road
Paradise, CA 95969

It's always helpful to cc those you are supporting.  Also, CFoL is selling the Keep It Open/Butte Co Library license plate holders.  Further information is available at their Web site.

Chico Friends of the Library
PO Box 6952
Chico, CA 95927
www.chicolibrary.org

About Kathie

Regular participant in National Novel Writing Month (November). Write 50,000 words in 30 days. Winner in 2003, 2005 (x's 2!), 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Entrant in 2004. For more about the author, visit the web page here. To return to the main page of eJourn.net, click here.