City of Salinas to Save $7Mil. by Closing All of the Libraries

Facing a $9.2 million budget shortfall after the failure of two tax measures in November, the Salinas city council agreed 6–1 on December 14 to close the three branches of the Salinas Public Libraries between January and June, 2005.

Services provided by the libraries—John Steinbeck Library, Cesar Chavez Library, and El Gabilan Library—include literacy programs, delivery service for homebound individuals, computer and internet access, the Steinbeck Collection, homework center, Chicano Cultural Resource Center, college catalogs, and other typical library services.

The city says it will aim to set up after-school homework centers at local schools.

Jayne Wilsey, a 13-year library employee, told the Monterey Herald, "We feel like we've been sold out. The city administration, politicians, even our own union. It seems like the City Council was given no alternative but to close the libraries."

http://www.ci.salinas.ca.us/Finance/BudgetImpact/Reports.html
http://www.salinas.lib.ca.us/library_news.html
http://www.fospl.org/