Statement before the                                Glenn A. Walsh

Regional Asset District                      P.O. Box 1041

  Board of Directors:             Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.

  “Rightsizing” Plan               Telephone: 412-561-7876

       Could Close                     Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >

 Carnegie Libraries               Internet Web Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >

                                                                                    2007 October 1

 

Good afternoon. I am Glenn A. Walsh of 633 Royce Avenue, Mt. Lebanon. Today, I am speaking as a private citizen, representing no formal organization.

 

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.

 

If Carnegie Library reduces service by closing library branches, why should Allegheny County taxpayers continue providing the same amount of money, or even additional funds, to Carnegie Library?

 

I ask that you make it quite clear to the Board of Trustees and the management of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh that closure of any neighborhood library branch would be a specific reduction in library service to the people, and would result in a proportional reduction in RAD funding to the Carnegie Library system.

 

Thank you.

 

gaw