Help Save NYC Libraries with a Phone Call? Yes Please!!! 311 Call-In Days 6/20 and 6/21

[Save NYC Libraries Re-post]

The NYC budget decision is coming down to the wire now, people! Thank you so much for your support so far. We appreciate you signing the petitions, camping out with us at the Read-In, and all the other great stuff you’re doing to help save NYC libraries.

We’re going to ask you to do ONE LAST THING this year to help prevent library funding cuts before the budget is finalized (which might be as early as next week – yikes!)

Just like last year, we’re holding an official “311 Call-In Day” so that the mayor’s office gets inundated with phone calls in support of NYC libraries.

This small action has a BIG impact because 311 tracks the comments and tells the mayor about the issues that concern people the most. Imagine if Mr. Bloomberg got A MILLION comments just about library funding. Would he be able to justify closing them down THEN? Pshaw! (Okay, maybe a million calls is a stretch. But it’s nice to dream!)

Here’s what you can do:

On either Thursday, June 20th, or Friday June 21st (or both!), call 311 at any time and tell the operator you’d like to make a “budget comment.” Then you can make a statement regarding library funding. If you want to keep things simple, here’s a sample script: “I believe closing any libraries in NYC is unacceptable and I’m calling to request the complete restoration of library funding.” Easy as that! And it feels so good.

If you don’t live in NYC, you can call 212-NEW-YORK (or 212-639-9675). In addition, the TTY Number is 212-504-4115.

Want to connect with other library supporters? RSVP to make your phone call over on Facebook!

Every Library in America, Mapped

Public library outlets in United States (2010) from IMLS

The People’s Budget NYC

Click the link, register, and vote for the EXTEND LIBRARY HOURS proposal! John Liu will testify on behalf of the top three vote getters at an upcoming budget hearing (via Urban Librarians Unite)

http://peoplesbudgetnyc.com/

April 5, 2013 is the Urban Librarian’s Conference brought to you by Urban Librarians Unite!

The Urban Librarian’s Conference focuses specifically on the issues of the working librarian in the city. This conference will target skills and techniques for people on the front line of information services.

The Urban Librarian’s Conference will differ from other library conferences in numerous ways. Instead of being based on ALA Divisions or on geographic location this conference will focus on serving populations in a type of community (the city). Working urban librarians often find themselves saying “well that is great but it will never work in MY library”. This conference will only offer ideas that would work in an urban library. Practice will be paired with the practical, the ideas and concepts discussed will be tied to practical courses of action that working information professionals can use for the benefit of their patrons and institutions.

Urban Librarians Unite is a small not for profit organization based out of New York City. Its mandate is to promote urban libraries and librarianship, to support advances in Library Science in urban areas, and to defend any library at risk. ULU was founded with this kind of scholarship and conversations in mind. The organization plans on making the Urban Librarian’s Conference an annual event with luminaries in urban librarianship coming together to swap ideas and develop new resources for our colleagues and patrons.

Get speaker and schedule information and register here: urbanlibrariansconference.org

UPDATE 4/14/13

School Library Journal’s write up of the conference: “Urban Librarians’ First Conference Is A Love-In”

SOS NYC Libraries

http://magpielibrarian.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/savenyclibraries-or-youre-going-to-have-to-read-another-post-like-this-next-year/

“If you care about New York, if you care about libraries, if you care about teens and toddlers and immigrants and parents and jobseekers and seniors and schools and literacy and serving the under-served and the digital divide and books and literature and culture, then you should be really worked up about these budget cuts. You should be spitting mad. You should be emailing Mayor Mike Bloomberg right now. Seriously. Mega-Library Advocate Marilyn Johnson suggests categorizing your message under “Quality of Life”. You don’t need to be a New York resident or a librarian to tell our Mayor that libraries are essential.” –Urban Librarians Unite

Rural Librarians Unite in Solidarity With the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

In December 2012, the board of trustees at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum (VT) laid off 11 library staff and invited them to reapply for 3.25 positions. Rural Librarians Unite organized a rally in response. Here is some footage. More information is available on the Rural Librarians Unite website: rurallibrariansunite.org

…more than just books!

Image text by Andy Woodworth, NJ Librarian (http://agnosticmaybe.wordpress.com/)

Facts. @yourlibrary

(Jessamyn West —–> ALA Think Tank)

A people’s library in London, occupied by a coalition of activists, librarians and community members, reopens a shuttered library and fills it with books and communty services.

Those protesting the sale and development of North London’s Friern Barnet library and its surrounding green space have the following message for the council:
“Library campaign groups working with the Occupy movement and the local community share a common aim: that Friern Barnet library should be re-opened in the existing building by Barnet council and preserved as a fully funded library and community space with the direct involvement of local people in the decision making process. The occupation of the building is a direct action that has highlighted the massive community support for Friern Barnet library, and has challenged not only its closure but the entire One Barnet programme and the privatisation of our public services in general.” Article here:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/12/504356.html

Hey Philadelphia! Book Paper Scissors Artists’ Book Fair is this Saturday, December 8th

 

Book Paper Scissors is an artists’ book fair, free and open to the public, accompanied by book and paper workshops.

This year the annual event, sponsored by the Art Department and Philadelphia Center for the Book, is being held in the Lobby of Parkway Central Library this Saturday, December 8th from 10-4. More than 20 artists will be showing and selling their work including prints, artists’ books, handmade paper, zines, origami, blank books, paper sculpture, and jewelry made by local artists. There will also be 2 free workshops, taught by graduate students from the Book Arts/Printmaking program at the University of the Arts: A Tale of Two Pamphlets with Erin Paulson11 am-12 pm   FREE  (Room 108) and Thaumatropes: Victorian era toys for kids  with J. Pascoe and Erin Malkowski2 pm-3 pm    FREE   (Room 108).