The city hopes to transfer management of 11 library branches scheduled to be closed in less than three days to private foundations, wealthy individuals, companies and community development corporations, Mayor Nutter said in a press conference today.
The specific services offered at each former library would vary from site to site depending on the sponsor, and Nutter said the city only has tentative agreements in place for five of the 11 branches.
It was not immediately clear which of the 11 branches are on track to be saved, and the mayor did not identify the organizations, companies and individuals who have stepped up to support.
But his hope is that, in time, each of the 11 libraries will be converted into community “knowledge centers” that offer similar or perhaps even superior services to those now available at the branches: retaining book collections, computers, and perhaps even trained (though not city employed) librarians.
“Libraries are much more than repositories for books. We know this,” Nutter said. “They are the absolute complete nexus of community life.”
No city librarians or other municipal employees would work at the “knowledge centers,” so the city would retain the annual $8 million in savings it will achieve through closing the branches.
But Nutter was emphatic that the library properties would not be sold as part of any arrangements, suggesting that long-term leases would be used instead.
The mayor made his announcement at a press conference crowded with dozens of vocal protesters angry with his decision to close the 11 branches as a part of a larger plan to eliminate the city’s $1 billion-plus five-year budget gap.
At times, the protesters drowned the mayor out as he delivered what appeared to be relatively good news. In addition to the still-developing private partnerships, Nutter announced that federally-funded after school “LEAP” programs now offered at the closing libraries will be moved to other nearby locations in the affected neighborhoods.
During the press conference, Common Pleas Court Judge Idee Fox heard testimony from library closure opponents who filed a class action lawsuit seeking to prevent Nutter from shuttering the branches. Three City Council members also filed an emergency petition to try and stop the mayor from closing the libraries without first getting council's permission. Those proceedings have been combined, and will continue tomorrow.
The specific services offered at each former library would vary from site to site depending on the sponsor, and Nutter said the city only has tentative agreements in place for five of the 11 branches.
It was not immediately clear which of the 11 branches are on track to be saved, and the mayor did not identify the organizations, companies and individuals who have stepped up to support.
But his hope is that, in time, each of the 11 libraries will be converted into community “knowledge centers” that offer similar or perhaps even superior services to those now available at the branches: retaining book collections, computers, and perhaps even trained (though not city employed) librarians.
“Libraries are much more than repositories for books. We know this,” Nutter said. “They are the absolute complete nexus of community life.”
No city librarians or other municipal employees would work at the “knowledge centers,” so the city would retain the annual $8 million in savings it will achieve through closing the branches.
But Nutter was emphatic that the library properties would not be sold as part of any arrangements, suggesting that long-term leases would be used instead.
The mayor made his announcement at a press conference crowded with dozens of vocal protesters angry with his decision to close the 11 branches as a part of a larger plan to eliminate the city’s $1 billion-plus five-year budget gap.
At times, the protesters drowned the mayor out as he delivered what appeared to be relatively good news. In addition to the still-developing private partnerships, Nutter announced that federally-funded after school “LEAP” programs now offered at the closing libraries will be moved to other nearby locations in the affected neighborhoods.
During the press conference, Common Pleas Court Judge Idee Fox heard testimony from library closure opponents who filed a class action lawsuit seeking to prevent Nutter from shuttering the branches. Three City Council members also filed an emergency petition to try and stop the mayor from closing the libraries without first getting council's permission. Those proceedings have been combined, and will continue tomorrow.
Posted by Patrick Kerkstra @ 3:26 PM
Permalink |
44 comments
This should have been part of the mayor's announcement from the first, a plan to transfer control and support to private nonprofits. Sloppily done, Mr. Mayor.
Hmm, so the city will have a dual set of libraries and, err, community knowledge centers (CKC)? If the goal was to privatize libraries, the city would have been better off doing so in wealthy neighborhoods who would clearly have the resources to run a CKC. Shame that Fumo is on trial, one can imagine one grand CKC somewhere in South Philly (with many leather bound books). So, when do you think that Mr. Nutter will turn the city's largest municipal cost driver, the old PPD over to community control?
Why not simply collect the $522 million in overdue property taxes owed the city? Send out collection notices, and most owners will start to pay their debt down. This should have been the first order of business of the new administration, instead Nutter avoided taking leadership. How can we allow whole zip codes to carry one in five, one in four, even one in three of all owners NOT paying property taxes while we shutter the brightest spot in every neighborhood, the library? It's ungodly, and it's corrupt to target libraries first before collecting this money at sheriff sale. We must demand that the city do a better job collecting overdue property taxes at foreclosure, promoting reverse mortgages where the reverse mortgage holder lets the owner live there and the payor takes care of property taxes, and other sensible measures to create a fully paying property tax base that supports good schools and a full complement of libraries. Here's the city's own data that shows that the city is unfairly targeting collections in some zip codes, but letting collections slide in other zip codes like 19146, or SWCC, that can afford to pay.
http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/delinqbyzip/index_html?skey=pcent&rkey=pcent
Privatizing government run institutions is a good start. How will liberals complain about it is another thing.
An excellent decision by the Mayor. Corporate sponsorship of libraries is great public relation, an investment in today's youth, and responsible citizenship.
Philadelphia has more libraries per capita than any other city in the country. They are extremely expensive to run. In hard times, we need to shut some down.
if it works, it's acceptable.
The money was taken away from the corrupt Safe & Sound not-for-profit, but instead of placing $ in after-school programs and camps in partnership with the libraries and recreation centers (as Nutter promised during his campaign) the $ was given to yet another not-for-profit. By the way, the new not-for-profit, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, simply takes their $ cut and then sub-contracts to smaller not-for-profits!
how many of you criticizing Nutter have voluntarily stepped into a library in your entire life?? Hey Fletcher, what do liberals have to do with closing libraries? Sounds to me like Nutter is doing his best to balance the city budget - something your republican stains NEVER do.
how many of you criticizing Nutter have voluntarily stepped into a library in your entire life?? Hey Fletcher, what do liberals have to do with closing libraries? Sounds to me like Nutter is doing his best to balance the city budget - something your republican stains NEVER do.
Comment removed.
"Corporate sponsorship of libraries is great public relation, an investment in today's youth, and responsible citizenship."....Until Merck's (or any other company, just using them as an example) sponsorship of the library includes their right to oversee what books and research materials ultimately make it to the library shelves. If you people are naive enough to think that corporate dollars won't come with restrictions or dictate what ultimately is displayed at these "corporate libraries", well you haven't been paying attention to the actions of this country's corporate "benefactors" over the past decade. Go to the library, grab a dictionary, and look up the words "naive" and "sucker".
I'm criticizing Nutter for announcing library closures as a first order of business, and have spent a good part of my life in libraries. That's why I know they are more important than city-run rec centers, which could be subject to the same privatization. Nutter has not done enough to collect the money owed the city, the largest debt represented by overdue property taxes. If I didn't know how to do research, I'd never have known that, because it's an issue the papers are afraid to cover. You only see anything about it on Fox29, same with the Latrice Bryant scandal. Honest analysis of city government is critical, and Nutter is not doing enough where it matters the most. Half a BILLION in uncollected property taxes while closing libraries is a DISGRACE. Transferring ownership and management is smarter, but Nutter only put that in place after two lawsuits were filed. Here's the city's own data on where the money is that the city needs now: http://www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary
If you build it, they will come. Yes, it is acceptable and the rich people donating their money will have a huge tax write-off. Mayor Nutter is doing the best he can in the present economy. Fast Eddie would have been facing the same problems were he still the mayor. I don't know whether he would have closed the libraries, but he sure would have kept the bars open.
44 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
About Inquirer City Hall Staff
- '07 Election
- Michael Nutter
- Al Taubenberger
- Pa. Politics and Policy blogs
- Young Philly Politics
- Politics PA
- Keystone Politics
- Philly Blogs:
- Metropolis
- Citizne Mom
- Plan Philly
- Changing Skyline
- Citizen Hunter
- American Debate
- The Illadelphia
- Phillyist
- Trash Me
- The clog
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Philly Skyline
- Phawker
- Philebrity
- Philly Blog
- Philly Future
- Addytood
- Philly Confidential
- Great Expectations
- Philly News
- Legal Intelligencer
- Philadelphia Business Journal
- Philadelphia Weekly
- City Paper
- Sunday Sun
- Public Record
- Inquirer
- Daily News
- Tribune
- Evening bulletin
- Metro
- Philly Politics and Policy Blogs
- Fight for Room 215
- A smoke Filled Room
- Hallwatch
- The Next Mayor
- Watchdogs & Movements
- Philly for Change
- PICA
- Casino Free Philadelphia
- The Field Negro
- PA Clean Sweep
- Neighborhood Networks
- Philadelphia Forward
Blog Roll
Get it now
Philly.com Promotions
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
Site Services:
Classifieds:
- Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Marketplace | Celebrations
Partners:
