Protests in Los Angeles

There are protests currently in Los Angeles at the Central Library due to the closure of libraries in the county on Sunday and Monday. This is after the libraries and staff have taken significant hits due to budget shortfalls.

The brief article is here.

Here are other things going on with the library that show how Los Angeles priorities for education and knowledge are messed up. In June the LA Times reported:
"Last week(June 21) Los Angeles officials moved ahead with plans to lay off an estimated 278 employees; more than one-third are library workers. The city's Board of Library Commissioners voted earlier this month to cut one day of service from every branch starting in July."

We now know that the 1 day cut turned out to be 2 days and that the hours were cut as well. On top of that as of July 1 employees were not supposed to be part of the furlough and unpaid days off deal. They still are when hours of the branches are cut and the hours of librarians are cut.

Here is another thought on the value of a library:
Andrew Carnegie felt his fortune (financial and educational) were due in part to a wealthy gentleman, Col. James Anderson, opening his personal collection of books (over 400 titles) to the working boys. Carnegie had access to books he never would have been able to read or browse due to the generosity of Col Anderson.

How many hard working young adults or teens are losing the options that the library brings by closing it on Sunday and Monday?
How many doors are being shut by closing the one that opens minds?