Dear West Philly Local editors,

Last week, in a City Council member’s office, I was told they got more calls from West Philadelphia about funding libraries than from any other part of the city! Probably because of you running my library story earlier this year – thank you!

Here’s another announcement:

Join Free Library ‘Friends’ and Staff, before City Council’s Budget Vote Thursday, June 13th. We will gather INSIDE of City Hall on the 4th floor, at 9:30 AM. Please bring your ID to get into the building. All are welcome!

Without a $15 million increase, neighborhood libraries will keep closing due to staff shortages and maintenance issues. Mayor Kenny and City Council members have the power to increase the budget. Let them hear your voice! Learn about the progress we’ve made and next year’s challenge!

Earlier this year West Philadelphians responded by overwhelming City Council members and the Mayor with phone calls and emails supporting full funding for Philadelphia’s libraries. Members of neighborhood library Friends groups from all over the city have been haunting Council members and the Mayor’s offices. We got their attention!

As a result, Mayor Kenney put a $2.5 million increase for hiring new staff in the library budget that begins July 1 of this year. A step in the right direction, but only a step. City Council can amend the Mayor’s budget. But we learned just this month that, in spite of saying they would get more for libraries, in the end, not enough Council members were willing or able to spend the political capital necessary to make it happen.

When we returned to the Mayor’s office, he promised to put an additional $2.3 million increase in the following year’s budget for libraries. We will hold him to it and more! Come to our rally and press conference this Thursday morning. Let city officials know that Philadelphia CARES. We will be here next year, too!

– Alice Wells, Friends of Walnut West Library