Mayor Nutter met with library advocates this morning in City Hall to discuss his plans to shut down 11 of the city's 54 branches to help close a massive hole in the city budget.
According to Amy Dougherty, director of the
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, Nutter did not budge from his plans to shut the libraries -- and did not grant their request for a three to six month delay of the closings. But she said they did agree to set up a working group that will collaborate on ways to provide library services in the neighborhoods.
"The change is that we are going to be coming up with solutions," Dougherty said. "It's a good start. I am thrilled that the mayor talked with us today."
Dougherty said the working group would include the Friends of the Free Library as well as officials from the library and city administration.
Friends of the Free Library has been campaigning aggressively to keep the libraries open. They have started a fundraising drive online and are reaching out to private donors for support.