“A book is a gift you can open again and again.”
~Garrison Kellior
A Video is Worth 3200 Square Feet, too, Part 2
The purpose of a library is to build community. A recent article in the Erie Daily-Times detailed how poverty rates in the City of Erie are increasing: Erie’s child poverty rate is the highest among PA’s 10 big cities. Why it’s increasing. Yet the county executive chose to lease 3200 square feet of space of our library to a private, religious, tax-exempt university: Gannon Tuition. This doesn’t serve the part of the community that needs it most.
“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals.”
~Jean Vanier
A Video is Worth 3200 Square Feet, too
2nd State Films has released the first episode of Save Blasco, “The Power of Minerva!” Thank you to 2nd State Films for producing this documentary at no cost to KOLP. Thank you also to Julio Reyes who hosted the premier at the Maennerchor Plaza at no cost to KOLP. Below is the link to the YouTube video and the link to “The Power of Minerva” on the Keep Our Library Public website.
Please share, share, share these links with your friends, family, and neighbors to make sure our story is told!
“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.
~Fred Rogers
A Picture is Worth 3200 Square Feet, part 2
After Brenton Davis repeatedly saying that Project NepTWNE would have no impact on library services, this is where we are…
This is where 156 shelves of books once stood. Where did they go?
To the dumpster. The county executive seems to have a thing for dumpsters. Hopefully, a number of them made their way to the Friends of the Library for the Great American Book Sale.
“He who destroys a good book kills reason itself.”
~Milton
Happy Library Lovers Day!
From some front page worthy people! Please help keep our library 100% public by giving in honor of Library Lovers Day!
Protesters ‘not giving up’ opposition to Gannon aquatic center at Blasco Library
Gannon’s aquatic center at Blasco Library moves forward amid protests ― and a lawsuit
“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.”
~Henry Ward Beecher
Under Cover of Darkness
After months of radio silence about construction plans from both Gannon and the county executive, construction began last night at Blasco Library. Let’s think about that. If this is such a wonderful project and is so good for the library, why was it commenced under the cover of darkness with no announcement? Why the timing? Could it have something to do with the deadline (that has been extended) for handing over discovery materials in our lawsuit that the county executive has rapidly approaching at the end of this week? A coincidence, right?
Construction may have started, but this fight isn’t over. Please give to our legal fund to help us continue our legal battle to keep our library public.
Meredith: Under the cover of darkness, people do things they never do under the harsh glare of day. Decisions feel wiser. People feel older. But, when the sun rises, you have to take responsibility for what you did in the dark. And face yourself under the cold harsh light of day.
~”Grey’s Anatomy”
Mission Possible
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to keep those library visits and circulation numbers up. The Bayfront Parkway construction has already decreased traffic (remember to use Holland St.), and starting this week, the bayfront construction will decrease parking at the Blasco Library. Don’t give Gannon or the county executive a way to justify taking library space–either for Project NepTWNE or in the future–keep those numbers up! Visit Blasco Library! Check out some books!
“The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.”
~Albert Einstein
KOLP Statement on Construction at Blasco Library
We’ve heard different dates for the beginning of construction of Project NepTWNE at Blasco Library from different sources. Unfortunately, as per the norm, there has been no transparency from the county executive or Gannon. Suffice it to say that judging from the rearranging of library resources that have taken place in the last few weeks, construction will begin any day.
In order to have an injunction issued to stop construction, we would need to pay for a bond that would cost thousands of dollars. Our case is strong, so we don’t want to waste money on an injunction. We choose to channel our money into funding our lawsuit as it works its way through the justice system. If Gannon chooses to waste its money on construction that will have to be undone, that is their choice. We just hope that the county executive will choose to abide by deadlines and not delay things further so that we can see justice for library users and Erie County taxpayers in the near future. For more information about our lawsuit and to donate to our legal fund, please visit keepourlibrarypublic.com.
Book Lover’s Sale
Support the OG supporter of the library, and get yourself some books! The dates of the Friends of the Erie County Public Library Book Lover’s Sale are the following:
Thursday, February 13 10 AM – 6 PM
Friday, February 14 10 AM – 4 PM
Saturday, February 15 9AM – 3PM
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
~Cicero
Coming Attractions
We had a great editors’ meeting last night to fine-tune the first episode of the documentary. This has been created by 2nd State Films at no cost to KOLP. Here’s the trailer, and watch this space for details about the public premier.
“An original idea. That can’t be too hard. The library must be full of them.”
~Stephen Fry
Keep Our Library Public! 