Why Is New York City Planning to Sell and Shrink Its Libraries?

Defend our libraries, don't defund them. . . . . fund 'em, don't plunder 'em

Mayor Bloomberg defunded New York libraries at a time of increasing public use, population growth and increased city wealth, shrinking our library system to create real estate deals for wealthy real estate developers at a time of cutbacks in education and escalating disparities in opportunity. It’s an unjust and shortsighted plan that will ultimately hurt New York City’s economy and competitiveness.

It should NOT be adopted by those we have now elected to pursue better policies.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Archived Former CDL “Upcoming and Recent Events Page”

[Back To Main Page]  (The main updates to this page now just occur in the calendar below.)

Below is Citizens Defending Libraries publicly available Google Calendar (set up 03/22/2013) where event may appear first before being transcribed into the bullet calendar items that appear before it

 
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENT: Mayoral forum on Libraries hosted by Citizens Defending Libsaries and the Committee to Save the Public Library from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, Friday August 30, 2013 at the Kane Street Synagogue in Cobble Hill Brooklyn.  Click on calendar even below for further details.
Upcoming Events
•   Please refer to the calendar above for upcoming events.  We have switched over to this (together with periodic emails to signers of the petition) as the primary means of updating people although we may occasionally list put certain future events down below here to get them extra attention.
•   Important Note Respecting One Of The Events In The Calendar Above-  The Jun 8 – 9, 2013 24-Hour Library Read-In by New Yorkers Standing Up for Libraries- Hosted by Urban Librarians Unite.  This is one of the events on the calendar not organized by Citizens Defending Libraries (most are not).   Urban Librarians Unite (created circa 2008) contacted Citizens Defending Libraries to express their wish that Citizens Defending Libraries communicate Urban Liberians Unite's wish that people not come to attend their 24-Hour Library Read-In event if they believe:
    •    We shouldn’t be selling off our NYC libraries the way we are.
    •    We shouldn’t be shrinking our library system assets
    •    It is a matter of public concern that we are getting less than appropriate value when these assets are sold, and/or
    •    Public representatives should assert themselves to protect these public assets.
Urban Librarians Unite also informed CDL that they considered inclusion of this publicly advertised (previously come-one-come-all event) public event in the calender “unacceptable.”  In other words they wanted to Shush us about their "We Will Not Be Shushed Read In June 8 & 9th! Sign Up Now!" event.  Urban Librarians Unite objected to the testimony CCL delivered at the City Council budget hearing on June 5, 2013 and apparently, there was concern on their part that people with negative feelings about library sales and shrinkage might participate in the event to express their opposition to underfunding of libraries, or that such people might communicate with attendees of the event about this related subject. CDL doe not allow those holding public events to dictate exclusion (or inclusions) of information in the calendar about relevant library related events (mayoral forums, library trustee events, etc.), but agreed, in this instance to express the above about ULU's conscientious efforts to exclude public opposition to the library sales and shrinkage from their message. 
 Recent and past Events
•    Sunday, February 17th, 5:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights, Montague & Hicks Streets
 •    Sunday, February 24th, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Monroe)
 •     Thursday, February 28, 5:00 PM:  People should show up early for a meeting at the Brooklyn Heights Library (280 Cadman Plaza) about the proposed sell-off and shrinkage of that library, possibly to Forest City Ratner. It will include attendance by elected representatives, City Councilman Steve Levin and State Senator Daniel Squadron and representatives of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

•     Sunday, March 3, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Monroe)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.

•     Friday, March 8, 10:00 AM: (testimony opportunity at 1:00 PM):   (Click the sign-up LINK to let us know us know you are coming - Council green sheet notice in image at right, click to enlarge) There will be a City Council hearing about the city budget for libraries meaning that it will provide a forum for addressing the defunding of libraries and the “demolition by neglect” of the library system preparatory to its shrinkage through the proposed sell-offs to developers.  We are planning a demonstration for 10:30 AM when we expect press to be there.  The public will have to wait to testify last, starting at 1:00 PM.  Citizens Defending Libraries has issued a press release.  Pictures and testimony are available here: Testimony By Citizens Defending Libraries At March 8, 2013 City Council Committee Hearing On Library Budget Issues
 •     Saturday, March 9, 4:30 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Monroe)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
•     Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 5:30 PM: The City Services and Budget Committee of Community Board 5 will meet 5:30 p.m. at the Board Office, 450 Seventh Ave, Suite 2109, to discuss and respond to the Mayor's Preliminary budget.  The Community Board should be asked to oppose the Central Library Plan and the shrinkage of the City’s libraries, particularly the main libraries within their district for the sake of all New Yorkers in the city, to oppose the defunding of libraries being used as an excuse for these real estate deals and should be asked to stand up and demand that Donnell Library (also being consolidated in the shrinkage of the CLP) be restored to it original size or bigger, rather than being shrunk to ½ or 1/3 of its previous size.
•     Wednesday, March 13, 10:00 AM: Join the District Council 37 Local 1930 New York Public Library Guild Rally on the steps of City Hall for an immediate change to a permanent baseline funding for New York City's libraries.
•     Saturday, March 16, 2:00 - 4:00 PM: Canvassing outside Brooklyn Heights Branch and Business and Career Library (weather reasonably permitting).

 •     Sunday, March 17, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Monroe)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
•     Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 6:30 PM: Meeting of trustees of the "Friends of the Brooklyn Heights Library" (not really friends) at Brooklyn Heights Library (280 Cadman Plaza).  Public not invited.
•     Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 10:00 AM: City Planning Commission review and public hearing for the Walentas Two Tree Development BAM South project in connection with which BPL is proposing the closing and sell-off of the Pacific Branch library.  22 Reade Street.
•     Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 6:30 PM: Committee of Brooklyn's Community Board 6 meeting for the BPL's first presentation of its intentions to representatives of the community board (after the City Planning hearing) with respect to its proposed closing and sell-off of the Pacific Branch library and the proposed opening of a library in in the Walentas Two Tree Development BAM South project. 78th Police Precinct, 65 6th Avenue, Court Room (between Bergen/Dean Streets).
•     Thursday, March 21, 5:00 PM:  Meeting (open to the public) chaired by "Friends of the Brooklyn Heights Library" (not really friends) on behalf of Brooklyn Public Library at the request of Brooklyn Heights Association to further the sale and shrinkage of the Brooklyn Heights library.  Elected's and their representatives may attend to participate. At Brooklyn Heights Library (280 Cadman Plaza).
•     Saturday, March 23, 2:00 - 4:00 PM: Canvassing outside Brooklyn Heights Branch and Business and Career Library (weather reasonably permitting).
 •     Sunday, March 24, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Monroe)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
 •     Saturday, March 30, 2:00 - 4:00 PM: Canvassing outside Brooklyn Heights Branch and Business and Career Library (weather reasonably permitting).
  •     Wednesday, April 3, 6:00 PM: Mayoral Forum.  St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn New York 11201.
 •     Sunday, April 7, 4:00 PM: (We are skipped a week because of Easter) Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Clinton)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed. 
  •     Thursday, April 11, 8:00 PM: Mayoral Forum.  Jewish Center of Jackson Heights.  See calendar above.
  •    Citizens Defending Libraries Libary Protection Week Events- A Series of Events from Saturday, April 13th to Thursday April 18th[This week of events is documented in pictures, video and vido links here: PHOTO GALLERY- CDL's Library Protection Week and there is also a press release for the culminating City Hall CDL Press Conference with Comptroller John C. Liu.] Come to our rallies to protect and defend our public Libraries from being underfunded and sold off to private developers. Let our public officials know they need to put a halt to any more sales and restore proper funding to the system!  See events below culminating at City Hall with the New York City Comptroller. 
NYS Assemblywoman Joan Millman
City Council Member Stephen Levin speaking 
Brooklyn Heights Library
280 Cadman Plaza by Tillary
•    Pacific Library
Park Slope/Boerum Hill Brooklyn 
For more info (and you can let us know you are coming)
 •     (Sunday, April 14, 4:00 PM: Also listed below- Citizens Defending Libraries regular weekly planning meeting, - not officially part of Library Protection Week events- Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Clinton)  NOTE: Comptroller John Liu will visit and speak with use from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM.)

  •    Monday, April 15, Noon to 1:00
Central Library Plan Sit Out and Rally
In front of 42st Central Reference Library and Mid-Manhattan  Branch
For more info (and you can let us know you are coming)
20 West 53rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, (meet on 40 West 53rd)
Home of Winnie The Pooh, rare music CDs, and documentaries
Sold off to a developer in 2008 and still no promised replacement
Come say We Remember and Never Again!
For more info (and you can let us know you are coming)
Steps of City Hall
Comptroller John Liu to speak 
Come early to go through security
Sign up, get info here (and you can let us know you are coming)
•     Sunday, April 14, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Clinton)  NOTE: Comptroller John Liu will visit and speak with use from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
   •     Saturday, April 20, 9:30 AM (doors open): Mayoral Forum on Public Housing at Salvation Army Auditorium (starts at 10:30 AM) .  See calendar above.
 •     Sunday, April 21, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Clinton)  Petition signers are invited to click on the link to sign up for this event (on Moveon.org) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
    •     Monday, April 22, 6:00 PM: Mayoral Forum on Sustainability.  See calendar above.

    •     Tuesday, April 23, 8:30 AM: Mayoral Forum on Small Business and Workforce issues.  See calendar above.

    •     Wednesday, April 24, 6:00 PM: Community Board 2 Cultural Committee meeting, presentation from BPL on sale and shrinkage of Brooklyn Heights Library, also report on Clinton Hill and Walt Whitman libraries.  See calendar above.
•     Sunday, April 28, 4:00 PM: Progressive Community Building Event, Community Room in 101 Clark Street, Brooklyn Heights (Clark & Clinton) where next steps in our campaign will be discussed.
 •     Create Your Own Event!!!: It might be canvassing outside your own library or library of your choice.  Or maybe an information event at your school or church.  Contact us if you would like our help or suggestions.  We can post information about your event here.  We will also be happy to coordinate to send a representative to your event.
 CONTACT: To contact Citizens Defending Libraries email Backpack362 (at) aol.com.

You may also leave a comment with information in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

The first petition (gathered over 17,000 signature, most of them online- available at signon.org with a background statement and can still be signed).   On June 16, Citizens Defending libraries issued a new updated petition that you can sign now:
Mayor de Blasio: Rescue Our Libraries from Developer Destruction
You can also paste the following url into your browser.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/mayor-de-blasio-rescue-2?source=s.tw&r_by=5895137 

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