Dear Neighbor:
Evanston is in the process of the budget workshops and cuts which will be finalized if February. Many of you may know the branch libraries are slated to be closed as of March 1st. Pink slips have been sent out.
The cost to keep the branch libraries open is less than (1/2) of 1% of the entire $84,000,000 budget. CSNA has taken the position the libraries are an important component, economically and socially for the neighborhoods. We apologize for the short notice.
Central Street Neighbors Invites you to attend an Evanston Public Forum on
Branch Libraries and the Budget
When: Thursday Jan 21st
Where: The Ecology Center-Ladd Arboretum
2024 McCormick Blvd. Evanston
Time: 7:00-9:00 doors open at 6:30
The Central Street Neighbors Association Board of Directors met January 12 and discussed the current City of Evanston budget issue.
On behalf of the members the CSNA board voted to recognize...
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Next City Council meeting is Monday night, Jan. 11th. If anyone can make it and would like to speak, that would be great. Big numbers in attendance will continue to be important throughout the process. There are a lot of meetings, pace yourself!Be sure to sign up to speak before the meeting. Many people were unaware of the process last time. Topics we need to continue to address: the importance to the children/elderly, others without access to downtown; the use of the libraries by D65 and other schools; libraries as they provide community for these neighborhoods; loss in tax revenue to adjacent retail, and any others that you can name. Thanks for everyone's support. Also, there are two Facebook fan pages set up, so become a friend of either/both.
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Thanks to everyone who came out to support or speak in favor of preserving the branches at this morning's City Council meeting. There's still a lot of work to do, but I felt like it was an excellent first effort and appreciate everyone's energy and enthusiasm. Email me and let me know if there is a specific way you would like to help at Lori@SmarthinkingPR.com.
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There's a mtg tonight at 7PM at 2929 Central at the Coldwell Banker office for anyone interested in possibly speaking at tomorrow's City Council meeting. We're trying to organize our messaging so that we aren't repeating ourselves, and make the most effective use of our time in front of the council. The meeting Saturday AM is at the Civic Center on Ridge and begins at 8:30. The more, the merrier. Thanks to everyone for your emails and phone calls. It's been an amazing outpouring of volunteerism. I think there must be a direct correlation between being a reader and stepping forward to help. Thank you!
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I just found this tool on the petition site, so will keep this first entry short and sweet. I attended a special mtg of the library board tonight and things don't look great. Now, more than ever, we need to make an appeal beyond the emotional draw of our branches to the value they bring to the community. What would this mean to the Central Street retailers, or the area South branch stores, the kids of D65 without other access to computers, those searching for jobs? Studies say that for every dollar spent on libraries in a community, it brings back a $4 to $6 return on investment. What if the converse is true? Will cutting $400 thousand dollars from the library budget mean we are bringing enormous losses to our community's vitality and economy? I certainly hope not. Please take the time to write to ALL of the city council members and let them know that when Evanston starts closing libraries to balance a budget, something is definitely wrong. What does that say about our...
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