Tax Cuts for the Rich, Library Closures for the Poor

February 10th, 2005 · No Comments

I’m sure this is old news, but Jim Hightower recently did a commentary on library closures and I did a little searching on the issue. It strikes me that one of the easiest ways to increase the number of children left behind is to limit their access to libraries by cutting library funding and closing library branches. Knowledge is power, and libraries are a giant repository of knowledge, usually the only access to books for those who cannot afford to buy them.

Unfortunately, many cities are left to making hard choices and since they are generally receiving more federal and state mandates and less money to deal with them, our libraries are the ones suffering. Over $111 million in library funding cutbacks nationwide in the last 18 months.

One of the reasons I moved to my current location is that it is within an easy walk of the main branch of the Columbus Public Library. I worked at my college library. This issue resonates with me. For more details.

http://www.ala.org/ala/news/libraryfunding/libraryfunding.htm