Fishtown Library To Close, Leaving Many Old People And Kids With Nothing But Dunkin’ Donuts
Some of you may recall the Philebrity Christmas Pageant last year, which we staged at Johnny Brenda’s to benefit the Fishtown Community Branch of the Free Library. If you live in the neighborhood, you know that Fishtown Library is pretty much an oasis from much of the ugliness that more or less self-generates in the air around here; located in an old stable/fire station, it is quiet resource and great place to go for old people, kids, hipsters, unemployos — anyone, really. And we’d be lying if we didn’t say we’ve loved it for years. But just as we were starting to contemplate this year’s pageant/benefit, we were hit with the following news:
The Director of the Free Library visited this morning to relay the news that the Fishtown Community Branch will be closing in January as part of the massive budget cuts hitting the city. At this point, the library will not be reducing hours and will not reopen. All of the technology and computers will be sent to other buildings, and the building itself will be given to city property. Layoffs will also be part of the budget cuts.
If you would like to express your outrage, please call Siobhan Reardon, Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, at 215 686-5300, or Councilman Darrell Clarke at 215 686-3442.
Now, granted, we realize that with the coming budget cuts due to the financial crisis, the Fish-Lib is an easy target — like many community libraries in Philadelphia, it’s been hanging by a thread for years. But if we may, we humbly ask our friends, neighbors, and anyone who loves community libraries to call the number above and plead the case to save the Fishtown Library. We’ll keep you updated with our findings, and also what we’ll be doing about the pageant this year.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’ve been using this often recently and will miss it if it goes. I’ll be making a phone call today.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I hear they’re closing 11 other branches and laying off about 100 people as well. It’s really awful. In bad economic times the library helps out a lot more people than in boom times, it’s a shame that option is going to be taken away in some of the neighborhoods that need it the most.
November 6th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Sad very sad. And the govt and it’s citizens wonder why our education is going down the tubes. Why not axe some of the other programs which siphon money? How much does it cost to maintain these anyways..
November 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
This is so disheartening. I understand city budget cuts but libraries? Really? In an age where education is already suffering enough…ridiculous.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Too bad about the Fishtown branch.* Nice staff plus they carry the NY Times on a daily basis.
Also, the seem to have a *very* good children’s section. Kids and parents there all the time.
*Here’s hoping that it’s only somekind of bargaining tactic and that they will in fact remain open.
November 6th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
haha, you guys read books…
but seriously, everything starts with education. Limiting the options, limits so many other possibilities.
November 6th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The neighborhood branches I’ve been to all seem to be invested in children’s literacy with good children’s section. Anyone got a list of the 11 branches slated to close?
November 6th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I think it’s time to start cracking down on all the people living in the city, but using alternative addresses to avoid paying city wage tax. (many of my own friends!) I bet the lost tax revenue would be in the millions. I have tried contacting Inquirer reporters about this as a story idea, but never got a reply.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I just finished calling the numbers listed in the article above and writing a letter. I am starting a blog this evening that will keep anyone who wants to help updated on what they can do the blog address is:http://savefishtownslibrary.blogspot.com/