filed under Fox Point
New Fiscal Year, Same Old Shenanigans At The Library
9:44AM ON
07/01/2008
BY
Matthew Lawrence
Today’s July 1st, which marks the beginning of a new fiscal year at the library. What that means exactly is sort of up for debate; last year library administrators said they wanted a written contract with the city about what services they’d be providing, but then they spent the whole year refusing to agree to anything.
If they don’t sign an agreement soon, the backup plan is to close five branches, in Smith Hill and Olneyville and Wanskuck and Elmwood and Fox Point. And that’s not counting the Washington Park library, the closed branch that the city just spent Lord knows how much money on, adding a new roof and cleaning out ten years’ worth of mold and dead pigeons; the library administration, for whatever crazy reason, is refusing to reopen the branch, preferring to keep limited services in half of the old Benny’s down the street.
Also very vulnerable is the Fox Point branch, which is the only one of the (open) libraries currently operating on a lease. The building, on the corner of Wickenden and Ives, isn’t in the best shape–it’s dark and unattractive and not accessible to the handicapped and if anybody tested the air they’d probably find something unsafe about it–but it’s a vital part of the neighborhood, staffed by knowledgeable and friendly people, and it would be a shame if the library decided not to renew their lease without making alternate plans for all the kids, families and senior citizens that use the branch every day.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:04AM
jessestout Says:
I live on Wickenden Street and I enjoy my local library and I want it to stay open, not close!
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July 2nd, 2008 at 3:10PM
JOE BERNSTEIN Says:
Just beautiful!They want to close the libraries that serve the areas most in need of them-where people might not be able to afford computers/internet service,and where they might lack transportation to visit Central Branch(where do you park anyway?)-and the libraries are havens for kids to study and do homework away from sometimes crowded and distracting home environments.Not to mention the warm or air conditioned(depending on season)place for many elderly to relax and read in comfort.The branch libraries are community assets.
They wouldn’t dare close the Rochambeau Branch-oh,no-too many moneybags with influence who live around there.
Growing up as a akid in NY I loved the library-reading shouldn’t be a disappearing activity for young people.
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