Library Board Meeting at Noon Today

The board of the library will be meeting at noon today to discuss the fact that they have less than two weeks to decide how they’re going to keep themselves afloat.  By contract, they only have until the 31st to approve a plan for a “sustainable system.”

Since the economy is collapsing around us, it might not be that surprising that lots of people are rediscovering public libraries as a free means of entertainment, but if the PPL gets their way many city residents will be out of luck.  The sustainability plan includes closing four neighborhood libraries (in Smith Hill, Olneyville, Fox Point and Wanskuck) as well as keeping Washington Park from ever reopening, even though the city just renovated it and people in the neighborhood regularly protest about it.  So if you’re one of the many, many transportation-deprived kids or elderly people in those neighborhoods, you might be out of luck come the next fiscal year.

The board meetings are open to the public and take place on the third floor of the central library (on Empire Street).  Hopefully some people will show up to let the library know that closing branches is lame and that they could, I don’t know, maybe try fundraising at some point.