Statement before the Glenn A. Walsh
Council of
the
City of
“Rightsizing” Plan Telephone:
412-561-7876
Could Close Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >
Carnegie Libraries Internet Web Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
2007
September 7
Good morning. I am Glenn A.
Walsh of
Within their Fiscal Year 2008
annual funding request to the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD), The
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh informed RAD that next year they will form a “Commission on Libraries” to consider a
system-wide “rightsizing” plan, which
could include closing neighborhood library branches.
The grant application
actually says, and I quote: “Initiative 2.1 - Conduct rightsizing plan to evaluate number
and location of library, administrative, shipping and storage facilities”
end-quote.
It further says, and I quote:
“Initiative 2.2 – Complete neighborhood revitalization program to
renovate/relocate all eligible Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh facilities, based on rightsizing plan” end-quote. Attached to this statement,
on the reverse side, is an excerpt from Carnegie Library’s grant application to
RAD, regarding this rightsizing plan.
There you have it. Next year,
Carnegie Library’s “Commission on Libraries” will decide which neighborhood
branch libraries to close. And, of course, unless there is a library
renovation, there was no mention in the grant application of any public input
into this “Commission on Libraries” process!
When Herb Elish was Library
Director, he promised that every neighborhood with a branch library would
continue to have a branch library. Now, the new Library Director is reneging on this promise.
The
City of
Thank you.
gaw