Our efforts as advocates for public library funding have paid off. All indications suggest that the District Council, led in great part by Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., allocated an additional $3.2 million in FY2010 for the District of Columbia Public Library. These funds are intended to restore library operating hours to FY2008 levels and maintain security services at the current FY2009 levels.
It is unclear at this time if the Council was able to also allocate the staff positions necessary to restore library hours and maintain security but this is still very good news. There are still hurdles to overcome. The Mayor has a week to respond with a line-item veto and the Congress has 30 days to modify or amend the District budget with their own priorities.
That said, thanks and congratulations to everyone that has worked so hard this year to demonstrate the value of our libraries to our communities. In these tough economic times. maintaining funding for our public libraries is a victory for everyone in our community!
As information becomes available, it will be posted here. If there is anything we need to do to secure these funds, we know that we can band together, fight, and win!
Please take the time to thank your Councilmember; let your Friends group know of this success, and enjoy the knowledge that our voices were heard and our Public Libraries will continue to be the safe, welcoming, and encouraging spaces we need in our neighborhoods.