Stop The Zombie Libraries!

The Zombie Libraries at the Briggs and Skelton Branches are due to open on Monday afternoon. I intend to speak at Tuesday’s Council Meeting in opposition, not to the idea of re-opening the Branch Libraries, but the totally illegal way this has been done by the Mack Administration.

I hereby announce “The Committee to Stop the Trenton Zombie Libraries,” which will exist to gather public support to oppose this. Please add your voice to this effort!

Today I consulted Legal Counsel and asked their opinion as to whether action could be filed now for an injunction against the openings. I was advised that until all the usual avenues for action – City Council, the Business Administrator, the City Law Department – have been tried and failed.

So, I’ve written the following petition, which can also be downloaded here. I will be outside the Main Library tomorrow at 9AM to collect signatures. I hope to offer to Council solid proof of public support at Tuesday’s session.

Come on down tomorrow to sign the petition! If you can’t make it, print out your own copy, sign it, circulate it, and send it to your City Council member.

April 27, 2012

WHEREAS, in the Fall of 2010, the four neighborhood Branches of the Trenton Free Public Library closed their doors and ceased operations as the result of budgetary problems in the City of Trenton that caused a reduction in financial support to the Library from the City: and

WHEREAS, the four Branches – Briggs, Cadwalader, East Trenton, and Skelton – were valued as invaluable irreplaceable assets in the cultural, educational and recreational life of all Trentonians, children and adults; and

WHEREAS, it has been since the Fall of 2010 the desire of the People of the City of Trenton to re-open these closed Branches under the use and control of the Trenton Free Public Library, as described and regulated under Chapter 40:54 of the Statutes of the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, the City of Trenton has announced that the Skelton and Briggs Library will re-open on April 30 as branches of entities called “The Mayor’s Learning Center Libraries;” and

WHEREAS, the City’s plans have been designed with no participation nor approvals from: the management and Trustees of the Free Public Library, Trenton City Council, the State Librarian, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, nor have any presentations or plans been made available to the People of the City of Trenton to establish the City’s reasons for bypassing and ignoring the authorized structures and laws governing Free Public Libraries in the State of New Jersey, nor have any expenditures on behalf of these Libraries been authorized by City Council as required by law; and

WHEREAS, it is not known by the Public or City Council who will be staffing the Branches during their hours of operation, their qualifications, background, experience, or salaries; and

WHEREAS, the City of Trenton has publicly called for Volunteers to work in these Branches, without describing the duties of Volunteers, or whether such Volunteers will be subject to Background Checks and/or Drug Testing before being placed in proximity with the Children of the City of Trenton; and

WHEREAS, the existing collection of materials in these branches – books, furniture, computer equipment, etc. – that have remained in the buildings since their closure remain the property of the Trenton Free Public Library, and no authorization has been sought or granted by the Trustees for their use;

THEREFORE, the Undersigned Citizens of the City of Trenton and friends of the Trenton Free Public Library declare the “Mayor’s Learning Center Libraries” to be illicit, illegitimate and bogus “Zombie Libraries.” We call on an immediate halt to all plans and actions on behalf of these “Learning Center Libraries” unless and until all procedures and processes have been followed as required by the laws of the City of Trenton and the State of New Jersey.

FURTHER, the Undersigned declare their support for the re-opening of the Branches under the Use and Control of the Trenton Free Public Library as early as can be feasibly possible.

SIGNED, April 27, 2012

Name               _____________________

Address          _____________________

City, State      _____________________