About this Petition:

The Seattle City 2010 budget was announced on 25 Sept 09. The library was hit hard with downward adjustments. The impact? A system wide one week closure and the closure of 21 branch libraries on Friday and Sunday all of next year. In the recession of 2002 and 2003, our library system was closed for two weeks each year and library hours were cut. The Seattle Public Library has not regained the operating hours lost almost 7 years ago! Furloughs leave a legacy.
Today's libraries are busier… (read more)

The Seattle City 2010 budget was announced on 25 Sept 09. The library was hit hard with downward adjustments. The impact? A system wide one week closure and the closure of 21 branch libraries on Friday and Sunday all of next year. In the recession of 2002 and 2003, our library system was closed for two weeks each year and library hours were cut. The Seattle Public Library has not regained the operating hours lost almost 7 years ago! Furloughs leave a legacy.
Today's libraries are busier than ever and visits doubled in the past 5 years. People are turning to libraries for internet and wi-fi access, job search resources, and personal budget relief.
The Friends of The Seattle Public Library believes:
•Furloughs are not a sustainable solution for the operations of The Seattle Public Library and that furloughs eliminate the critical services provided daily by The Seattle Public Library staff and collections.
•Any further reduction in operation hours isn’t a rational choice given the substantial increase in patron use especially in the current economic crisis.
•There must be an ongoing baseline of capital maintenance support for The Seattle Public Library to protect the 196 million dollar investment the citizens of Seattle have made in the building and renovation of The Seattle Public Library System.
•Reductions in The Seattle Public Library’s collections budget will adversely affect the diverse community of Seattle Library patrons.
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The Desired Outcome of this Petition:

Your signature makes a difference! The 2010 budget severely impacts access to critical library resources in 21 neighborhoods. The City Council can change the proposed 2010 budget but Councilmembers must hear from you. In tough times, people turn to libraries in skyrocketing numbers with critical needs. Please help us tell elected officials to support library access and resources.

Your signature makes a difference! The 2010 budget severely impacts access to critical library resources in 21 neighborhoods. The City Council can change the proposed 2010 budget but Councilmembers must hear from you. In tough times, people turn to libraries in skyrocketing numbers with critical needs. Please help us tell elected officials to support library access and resources. (show less)