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Petition Tag - library
1. Save Stratford Children's Library 
The children's library at Stratford Library is a vital community resource and an important and necessary investment in the children and young people of our community, where children from babies to teens gather to read, explore, and learn.
Current plans will drastically reduce the size of this space after a six-month closure from 1st October 2011. The community was not consulted in the plans for our library.
The Stratford children's library is heavily used in its current size. In a reduced size it would become over-crowded and would drive children and parents away.
The destruction of our treasured children's library space will be a disinvestment from a whole generation of young people and could have devastating long-term effects. It represents a betrayal of Newham's pledge to invest in our young people and regenerate our community.
2. Letter to the Dean of Science, UQ.
During the recent amalgamation of the Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences and Engineering Libraries at the University of Queensland, to make space for a 24/7 student computing facility, both books and journal holdings of the science collections were severely culled.
Concerns regarding the collections to be discarded, and how it was to be done, were raised by academics, technical staff, and myself on behalf of an interested student group. Those staff I have spoken with, and I, were assured that all books to be 'discarded' would be duplicates of old textbooks, journals accessible electronically, "superseded editions, non-scholarly material, out-of-date dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and so on."
With regards to the materials discarded, I was informed, "Had it been of lasting worth, it would not have been discarded."
I have now learned "Despite assurances that they would only discard items that were available as electronic resources, 88 % of what they threw out amongst QE journals are not available electronically and almost none of them have holdings elsewhere in Australia" and that "library staff have discarded the majority of palaeontology and geology literature" despite the fact that "we were told point blank that palaeontology was done at UQ".
These and similar comments and actions are of great concern to staff, students and alumni of this faculty, and the greater body of the University.
3. Funding to public libraries in Victoria MUST NOT be cut!
From The Age, 14th July 2011:
"State government plans to slash library funding
Reid Sexton
VICTORIA'S public libraries could face shorter opening hours and cuts to internet services and other projects after a Baillieu government decision to slash funding.
The multimillion-dollar cut to operating costs has left councils scrambling to make up the shortfall, with the Municipal Association of Victoria saying the revelation came as a shock.
The association says it will leave councils with around $5.7 million less to spend on libraries over the next four years while opposition local government spokesman Richard Wynne has warned it will punish some of the poorest people in Victoria.
Councils and regional library corporations, which are run as joint ventures by regional councils, learnt about it in a letter sent as part of the Public Libraries Grant Program earlier this month.
The letter was written by Local Government Victoria, which is part of the Department of Planning and Community Development, and outlined how much libraries were to receive from the program over the next four-year funding period.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Bill McArthur said the cut was the result of the government reducing the overall funding amount and removing its indexation.
Mr McArthur said the loss would affect IT services and staffing, raising the possibility of reduced opening hours.
''We are surprised and shocked because there was no notification, no consultation it was just one letter that said … [funding] has decreased,'' he said.
''They [have] failed to consider the impact on communities or library services.''
Recent departmental figures show Victoria has around 290 permanent libraries and 26 mobile libraries, with 2.5 million Victorians members of their local libraries.
In March Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said the Coalition was a strong advocate for improving libraries in Victoria.
And in a 2006 policy statement, the then Liberal opposition said Labor provided a ''miserable'' 19.9 per cent of the overall cost of running public libraries.
But Mr McArthur said that figure had slipped to 19.2 per cent in the 2009-10 financial year and was likely to fall further under the new arrangements.
''The government has made a number of statements that says it supports libraries and that it recognises them as important community assets, but their actions don't support those words,'' he said.
Numerous councils have expressed deep concern over the cut, with City of Hobsons Bay mayor Michael Raffoul saying it would cost the municipality at least $19,000 this financial year alone.
Moreland City acting mayor Alice Pryor said it would leave the council around $25,000 short this year. She said the council would have to look at cutting back staff levels and projects like Live in the Library, where musicians perform in the municipality's five libraries.
''That amount is half of someone's wage,'' she said.
''In … parts of our city, we are well below the average with people with computers at home.
''We do our best to provide those services but it's hard when our funding is cut.''
Mr Wynne said the cut would affect those people who used a library to access services they could otherwise not afford.
''This is a cruel cut which means that core services of libraries will be diminished,'' he said.
It is understood the government will provide around $32 million in operational funding over the next four years.
A government spokesman did not respond directly to the association's concerns but said it had provided around $55 million in the budget for library upgrades, funding and key programs such as the Premier's Reading Challenge.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-government-plans-to-slash-library-funding-20110713-1hdyf.html#ixzz1S4vtHzRh"
Public libraries are an integral part of local communities and offer services and facilities that benefit everybody - not least those who cannot afford such things themselves. From 'Dollars, sense and public libraries: The landmark study of the socio-economic value of Victorian public libraries' (March 2011):
"Victorian public libraries return $3.56 for every $1 spent."
With such a return, how can any funding cuts possibly be justified...much less considered, in light of the incredible benefits public libraries bring to communities? The full report can be accessed here: http://www.publiclibrariesvictoria.net.au/sites/default/files/20110318%20SL_PublicReport_LoRes_FINAL_1.pdf
Let's band together to ensure the Baillieu Government understands what is at stake here - and that Victorian residents will not support this decision!
4. Stop trying to reduce access to information to the British people at Portsmouth City Library
Seeing a depression the government has been trying to cut to save money. But cuts should be an intelligent measure, not to our local library. Laptop use should be encouraged at all libraries.
5. Keep Epping Forest Library Hours
Due to the need to cut costs their is to be a reduction in Library Opening Hours. 34 hours in total are to be taken.
This means less hours for Library workers who are hard pushed, less time for people to get books which disproportionately affects people who work during the week and the cut tend to hit poorer areas hardest.
6. Save Cambridgeshire Libraries
This petition has been set up by community representatives of libraries across Cambridgeshire. We aim to present it to Cambridgeshire County Council to demonstrate the strength of local support for libraries.
We will also be making a paper version of the petition available for people to sign who do not have access to the internet. Please provide your full name, postal address and e-mail. These are required by the Council otherwise they will not accept the petition.
Please only sign this petition if you are a local person i.e. someone who lives, owns a business or works in Cambridgeshire, or who attends a school or college in Cambridgeshire at the time the petition is submitted.
For several years, Bromley Council has been talking about closing Anerley and Penge libraries and building a replacement library, probably in Penge. The council are currently looking at properties at the southeast end of Penge, furtherst from Anerley. In fact, the new library would be within walking distance of Beckenham Library (one of the borough's biggest) and miles from some parts of Crystal Palace.
The government recently reduced the amount that it gives to Bromley and so the Council is making cuts. They now plan to close Anerley Library next year to save £90,000.
Anerley Library is a vital service for residents of Anerley, Crystal Palace, South Penge (including the area around Selby Road and The Groves) and parts of Clock House. It is a focal point for the local community, a source of public information and private study, a place to access the internet and somewhere that children go to do their homework.
This petition calls on Bromley Council to maintain Anerley Library and ensure that the people continue to have access to this vital local service.
We oppose the closure of Preston Library, a cost-efficient local service that is well-used by all the local community.
It provides essential facilities for some of our community, particularly senior citizens and those with limited mobility, schoolchildren, the unemployed and others who may not have access to a computer.
Preston Library service is more accessible and meets the needs of a greater number of local people than would a multimillion-pound mega-library at Wembley Stadium, to which many users would find it difficult to travel.
We demand that Brent Council give adequate time and due consideration to alternatives plans to the closure of Preston Library, including the revision of proposals for the library at the Civic Centre.
We also oppose the sale or disposal of the Preston Library site for any redevelopment that does not include a public library for the use of local citizens.
9. Stop Selective and Discriminatory Admission Practices by The Library Bar (Fort Worth)
We have been selectively turned away from this establishment for being in violation of a subjective and ambiguous "dresscode' enforced by rude door staff.
10. Stop Making Residents Pay for Money Grabbing Barnet Council's Mistakes!
Barnet Council deposited £27.4 million in Glitnir and Landsbanki banks between November 2006 and September 2007 which may never be recovered. A project to replace a railway bridge in Colindale had also run almost two times over budget.
The replacement of two 19th century bridges on Aerodrome Road was estimated to cost £12 million, but Barnet Council papers reveal that the cost climbed to more than £23 million. A report claimed, " the estimate proved grossly inadequate". In 2008, Catalyst, which operates daycare centres and homes for elderly residents, wanted an estimated £8.672 million after making massive losses on its £9m a year contract with the authority. Total about £43 million lost.
No-one seemed particularly accountable and no-one appeared to be blamed. Coincidently, in 2008/9, Barnet Council spent around £2 million refurbishing their offices. This is not "Government cutbacks". This is mismanagement of public funds. Barnet residents are being penalised for the Council's mistakes and excessive pay-offs and bonus schemes. We have lost our Town Hall and Registry Office and now the Library and Museum are under threat.
The planned 100% increase in parking and permit charges at a time of recession is not only an insult to residents and people who work, shop or visit Barnet, it's also an example of what Barnet Council is prepared to do to make US repay it's £43 million debt..TO US!!! We have to make them accountable for their ineptitude.
11. Keep the BFI Library together and accessible
Late in 2010, the British Film Institute’s (BFI) senior management proposed splitting the BFI’s collection of printed works (books, journals and the like) and establishing “digital delivery” to users at the BFI site on the London Southbank with much of the collection physically to be held at the BFI’s Berkhamsted site – about 30 miles north of London and with more than a mile walk (no public transport) between the BFI site and the nearest railway station.
Despite the BFI management claiming that the Library is “core” to the BFI’s collections and that “Developing access to collections continues to be a key goal” the proposed move will worsen access – particularly for those living outside London. Library users value both the integration of the collection and its location. In 2002, the BFI commissioned a consultants’ report which found users valued “ease of access” more than anything else; more than 70% of users said a central London location was very important – and a further 21% said it was quite important. Three quarters of respondents said they would be unlikely to travel to Berkhamsted to use the collections if they were moved there.
Splitting the BFI Library and moving much of it to Berkhamsted will drastically reduce the usefulness and usability of what’s generally agreed to be the world’s best collection of printed materials on the moving image. The BFI management’s plans will drastically damage its usefulness and effectiveness as an instrument through which the BFI has been able to discharge successfully key parts of its mission. If the BFI cannot maintain the integrity and accessibility of its collection of printed materials it must find another agency which can.
Please therefore sign the petition and encourage other past, present and future users of the BFI Library to do so.
Details of developments are usually to be found on the bfiwatch blog at http://bfiwatch.wordpress.com/
12. Keep the library open on Sundays
It has been announced that Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) plans to close the library on Sundays, starting February 6, 2011.
We think the community can raise the necessary funds to keep the libraries open on Sundays. We invite you to sign the petition to tell the Board of Trustees you disagree with this decision and to consider participating in raising the necessary funds.
As of now there are about 110.000 KRL card members but only 1800 (less than 2%) donate to the KRL Foundation. We think the community can raise the funds needed to keep the library open on Sundays.
Thank you in advance for your concern and support.
Our message is clear: libraries matter. Somerset County Council no longer plans to run all the current 34 libraries and 6 mobile libraries. Unless the local community takes on the cost and running of a threatened library then it will close. Once closed, we will never get the library back.
Their proposals are:
To cut the public library service in Somerset by 25%.
20 libraries will have County Council funding removed - close to a 60% cut.
The fleet of mobile libraries will be reduced from 6 to 2.
Most of the remaining libraries will have a 10% cut in opening hours.
The most vulnerable members of the community will be particularly affected by these cuts. If you are passionate about books, reading & education then please sign the petition and spread the word!
AS LONG AS YOU LIVE, STUDY OR ARE EMPLOYED IN SOMERSET YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIGN.
Under 18s need permission from a parent or guardian. Members of a household can sign using the same email address.
14. Save Robert Jeyes Library, Chadwell Heath
Following the recent UK Government Spending Review, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council is considering, amongst other things, making cuts to the local library service. Central to this strategy is the proposed closure of the Robert Jeyes Library, Chadwell Heath.
This popular library provides a vital local service for a large section of the community. Services include; book, cd and dvd lending, reference books, sheet music, Internet access, craft activities, book clubs, local history collections.
Robert Jeyes Library is at the heart of the community in Chadwell Heath and it is vital that it stays open as a resource for all.
15. Save Anglesey's Libraries!
Anglesey Council has not undertaken an assessment of needs for the island's library services. Wirral Council was found in breach of the law when it tried to do much the same thing earlier this year.
Help protect your local library on Anglesey!
Grove Park Library, London SE12, is an essential free service for all our community, regardless of age or cultural background. It is especially important for children, local schools and older residents.
We believe that there are other areas where Lewisham Council could more usefully save money, rather than removing this valuable resource for the community.
FIND US on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129483680427663#!/group.php?gid=129483680427663&v=wall
Four other libraries are also under threat - Blackheath, Crofton Park, Sydenham and New Cross. Please sign their petitions as well.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-our-blackheath-village-library.html
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savesydenhamlibrary/
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-new-cross-library.html
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savecroftonparklibrary
17. Support State and Federal Funding for the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre sits in the heart of Geelong’s Cultural Precinct, surrounded by the Geelong Gallery, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Courthouse Arts and the historically significant and picturesque Johnstone Park.
Although the current Central Geelong Library serves the G21 Region and the Geelong Heritage Centre is Victoria’s largest regional archive, the building which houses them is too small, does not meet contemporary standards, is unsuitable for use and is critically under-equipped to cater for the needs of the Geelong regional community now and into the future.
The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre have formed part of the Victorian State Government and the City of Greater Geelong’s jointly-funded Geelong Future Cities Cultural Precinct Masterplan project, established to investigate potential cultural arts and commercial projects for the City.
The Masterplan, and the State funded and now completed business case has found that a new integrated Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is vital to the cultural, social and economic growth of the Geelong region.
The proposed new Library and Heritage Centre will replace the existing inefficient 50-year-old two storey library building with a new, larger modern facility boasting cutting edge technology and spaces to encourage interactive learning.
Key features will include:
* 200,000 collection items
* Exhibition and display spaces
* Children’s Exploration and Discovery zone
* Internet zones and 80 multipurpose PCs
* Special collections and research rooms
* Young people’s space
* Information and Technology Training spaces
* Reading/Community Lounges
* Individual and group learning spaces
* Reflection of Geelong’s region’s Indigenous heritage
* Interaction with park and open space
* Cafe and Retail
For further information please see attached information sheet or on-line at: www.geelonglibraries.vic.gov.au
18. Save our Libraries in the London Borough of Barnet
Councillor Robert Rams, the cabinet member responsible for librarys is conducting "a review". He has publicly stated that he would like people to order books online and collect them from Tescos or read them in Starbucks. He stated that libraries are outdated (and compared them to Blockbuster videos who he said went bust).
There is also a plan being drawn up to sell them off (along with allotments and council Morgues). We believe that this is totally wrong and are completely opposed to this social vandalism, which will destroy one of Barnet's great public amenities.
19. Support the Library Bond Referendum
The Support the Library Bond Referendum Coalition was formed by private citizens and members of the libraries' Friends groups to garner support for the upcoming referendum vote on Nov. 2 (and in early voting prior to that date). We believe that the Central Library and Clemmons and Kernersville branches are in disrepair and overcrowded, and need to be replaced or substantially renovated.
We also believe that there are a number of additional branches in the Forsyth County Library system (that are also included in the referendum) that need repairs and renovations as well.
20. Defend Arbury Court Library
Arbury Court Library, in Cambridge, is one of 25 community libraries across Cambridgeshire that are under threat from Cambridgeshire County Council's Library Service Review. Under the plans, the facility could be closed or become a volunteer-run service.
The library currently serves thousands of city residents, mainly in the Arbury, King's Hedges and Chesterton wards, and we believe any reduction in this vital service would be a huge loss to these communities.
Further details on the plans are available at http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
For a general petition to protest about library cuts in Cambridgeshire, please visit http://www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/
21. Save Illinois Library Systems!
All libraries in Illinois belong to one of nine library systems funded by the state of Illinois. Libraries in the suburbs surrounding Chicago belong to the Metropolitan Library System. These 464 libraries combine their resources to save individual libraries thousands and thousands of dollars.
MLS is able to negotiate prices for subscriptions to online information (databases) so that our users have the best, most up to date information available. MLS manages the automated online catalog system (SWAN) that 80 public libraries in the system share. MLS also operates a delivery system that allows our users to request an item from any of these 80 libraries and have it delivered in a matter of days.
At the end of June, services from MLS will be significantly reduced. Delivery of items requested through interlibrary loans and the shared online catalog will continue through November. If Governor Quinn does not fund library systems in the FY2011 budget, library systems as we know them in Illinois will disappear. The services that they make possible will change drastically.
Please ask Governor Quinn to “retain funding for library systems in the FY2011 budget.” Ask him to “release the funds that the state owes Illinois library systems for FY2010.” With your help, we can make a difference.
Dear Elected Officials of the State of New York:
Part of the City Council and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg proposed financial plan, library funding will be reduced. Case in point, the Queens library system alone will face a $14.4 million reduction of funds. This after previouse cuts in funding last year.
Unfortunately, some libraries are already closed on the weekends, and more will follow. Week day service hours will be drastically reduced and many employees could lose their jobs in this tough economic time.
These proposed cuts will not only cripple the library system but also our communities. This will cut out the many programs the libraries have to offer for example computer classes for beginners, learning how to speak English, teen programs, health programs, story time for babies, and book discussions. The library serves everybody in our community high school students, college students, adults, and our senior citizens.
Without the libraries, we would not gain the knowledge and information that we need empower ourselves with. Further closing the libraries could spark more hangouts among our young people(teens) which can cause an increase in crime.
It will be a shame that librarians who maybe single parents could lose their jobs due to budget cuts that could have been prevented. Food for thought. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
23. Save The Pittsville Branch Library
Rick Pollitt, County Executive for Wicomico County has proposed a budget cut for Fiscal Year 2011 to the Wicomico Library System for over $229,000.
The Wicomico County Council will have the final say on the amount and then the Library Board will be given the information to decide which services will have to be cut in order to meet this budget requirements. The Pittsville Branch Library is one of many services that could be cut.
24. Save Huntington Beach Public Library
Due to budget cuts, the Huntington Beach Public Library will be open fewer hours beginning April 1st, 2010. This includes CLOSING the main library on Sundays, and substantially reducing the hours of the branch libraries.
The reduction in hours was part of a $95,000 cut to the Library's Fiscal Year 2009/2010 budget due to the continued economic downturn.
Let the City Council know that in these economic times the public library is more important than ever. Public libraries provide residents opportunities to better themselves, to find jobs, to find health information, to buy a first home, to learn English, or maybe just to escape in their favorite book or spend time with their family.
25. Save the Library - Los Angeles Public Library
Cuts in services and hours for Los Angeles Public Library are being planned. Let our mayor and city council know that in today's economic downturn.
The public library is more important than ever (job hunting, etc.). Budget cuts should be made in less essential areas of government.
Simply to save the proposed closure of Wilford Library at:
Ruddington Lane
Wilford
Nottingham
NG11 7AX
There's a petition in Wilford Bowls Club & another in Wilford Co-Op - we could use your signature on the petitions. We've only got until this weekend to get as many people signing it as possible. Thank you.
27. Save The University Of Iowa Mathematics Library
The University of Iowa Mathematics Library is an historic institution which has been located in Maclean Hall since 1912. The Math Library has been located in Room 125 Maclean Hall since 1936. This library consists of approximately 60,000 items, some of which are in off campus storage.
The in-house Maclean Hall Math Library is one of the internal strengths of the University of Iowa Mathematics Department.
The current budget crisis at the University of Iowa has led the University of Iowa's Head Librarian to propose that the entire collection of books and journals in the Math Library be moved to the shelves of the Main Library --- or to be moved to off campus storage facilities. The moving is scheduled to begin at the end of the 2009 fall semester.
An independent delegation of 38 Mathematics, Physics and Statistics professors has petitioned the University of Iowa Provost, Wallace D. Loh to find an alternative plan that would keep, unchanged, the Math Library in its current location. To date, the provost continues to endorse the Head Librarian's relocation plan.
28. Don't Close The British Council Library (Alexandria)
The closing down of the British Council Library (KLC) in Alexandria has upset many students in Alexandria since they depended on it greatly as an active provider of information which not only allowed its members to browse through its shelves, but also to borrow from it, an option which only existed there.
So this is a petition from the members of the British Council to re-open the library.
29. Don't Cut Public Library Funding
We are petitioning the City of Rockford to reverse its threat to cut public library funding in next year's budget. Please sign below to let the Mayor and City Council know that you are against such cuts.
30. Save Puyallup School District Library Programs
The Puyallup School District Board of Directors, in an effort to balance the budget in these difficult economic times, is being asked to save funds by eliminating half of our certificated school library media specialists. This action will reduce student access to strong school library programs and deny equal access for all students to the shared resources and information skills instruction crucial for students to learn and thrive in the 21st century.
It is our hope that Puyallup citizens can help reverse the trend of serious reductions to our school library programs by calling on our school board to ensure that teacher librarians, library programs and technology training are no longer at risk. It is our wish that our children and their teachers have full and equal access to the literacy and collaborative opportunities provided by our school libraries and certified teacher librarians. It is our belief that information literacy and the technology training facilitated in our school libraries are crucial to our children, and that the teacher librarian's knowledge of student ability allows them to place "just right books" into the hands of students, fostering a love of reading and life-long learning.
The results of numerous studies indicate that Puyallup School District students and teachers would be best served by intact, fully-funded library and technology programs.
The U.S. Commission on Libraries and Information Science summarizes what decades of research have shown in state after state after state:
•Students in schools with good school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized test scores than their peers in schools without libraries.
•School Libraries have an important role in teaching. Certified teacher librarians are working with teachers to change what is possible in the classroom and support learning opportunities with books, computer resources and more.
•School libraries are leading the way for technology use in schools.
•School libraries inspire literacy.
•School libraries need to be staffed by a certified teacher librarian in order to have a positive impact on student academic achievement. http://www.nclis.gov
•To access an extensive list of research please see http://www.lrs.org/impact.php
