Salinas Mayor Truly Values Libraries, a guest poster to our Save Schaberg Blog

The Committee to Save Schaberg has been happy with all the community support we have received.  Whenever I wear my Save Schaberg Library shirt, people come up and say, "Thank you."  I always thank them right back, because without the support of the community, our lovely little branch might not be there anymore. 

We haven't posted in awhile, because Schaberg seems safe for the time being.  The committee truly hopes that the Library Board took note and will try their best to be a voice for ALL in our community.

In the meantime, the Mayor of Salinas made a WONDERFUL speech about the importance of libraries (at the annual meeting of the California Library Association).  With the permission of Mayor Donohue, we present the parts of his speech that are the most applicable to Redwood City:

I know first-hand just how vulnerable libraries can be in the current
fiscal era we live....particularly in California. All too often the most
vulnerable service these days is the public library. Ironically, library
patrons most likely represent the most potent community force when
they are mobilized.
One of my favorite books is How the Irish Saved Civilization....and, not
for the obvious reasons. But think about what the monks did in the
middle ages...they looked ahead...and realized they had to save
civilization and copy ancient manuscripts.
So too this generation must look ahead and figure out how to save the
libraries for future generations. In my view, nobody should be under
any illusions about the financial state of affairs of far too many cities in
California.

But I would tell you as a Mayor of a City that has had a significant youth
violence challenge that while I need an excellent police force, I cannot
envision a fundamentally peaceful city that does not have a vibrant
library system.

In fact I would argue that libraries are the strategic city service that can
and should bring the community together everyday around our common
challenges and dreams...be they economic, public safety, or re-inventing
government.
Let me speak to those elements as a Mayor but pause first to note that
ultimately at the heart of all of this is what libraries are all about. I am
the Mayor of a City with high unemployment, where people work hard
in the fields for their children to have a better future. In short those
fields grow dreams besides lettuce, broccoli, and, of course, not nearly
enough radicchio.
At the heart of all of this is the fact libraries are a place where
everybody
can go and does go, to touch something bigger than themselves. At
libraries, they discover a strength and potential within.
Do you remember the first time a book grabbed you?...really grabbed
you and you fought to sleep, didn't want to go to dinner, everything was
inconvenient but that book.
I would submit only libraries can arouse that type of passion and really
unite a community.

I need libraries open 7 days a week so families can gather to learn to
read, spend time together, students can do their homework. I want to see
our libraries go on offense, and do as Salinas is doing - create the first
Digital Arts lab in a California public library, partner to introduce a
Coder Dojo coding club to help develop young programmers who we
hope will be the future entrepreneurs of the Salinas Valley....which for
all intents and purposes is the fresh southern flank of the Silicon Valley.

Frankly no other public institution has more potential to help
communities solve problems, get ready for the future, promote the
common good, and cultivate individual aspiration and dreams, and, ...
oh yes....provide a good book....whatever form that takes!