You’ve told us many passionate, touching and funny stories about how libraries have helped you.  Mayor Dellums and the City Council need to hear your stories too.

Telling our public servants WHY libraries are important makes our message personal as well as strong:  We want our representatives to heed our petitions, phone calls, faxes, letters and e-mails to Keep Oakland’s Libraries Open.  Friends of Lakeview Library thought a great way to do this would be to collect and publish your library stories…and poems, pictures, photos, drawings, haiku, essays…whatever!   We will collect and print all the stories we receive, and we’ll present them at the June 1 Budget Hearings.

We want to make it easy,  so here’s how to tell us your stories (multiple stories are okay):

• electronically.  Just add your story as a comment to this blog.
• on paper.  For our friends and neighbors who prefer pen,  crayon, paint or photos, you can download & print the attached “Tell Us Your Library Stories” form , fill it in and drop it off at the Lakeview Library. (We’ll have printed copies of the form at the Library–drop by and fill one out)

Again, Friends of Lakeview Library will print, photocopy and present your stories at the June 1 City Council Budget Hearings.

Rules:

• Everyone who lives in Oakland and everyone who uses Oakland’s libraries is welcome to submit a story.
• There is no age limit–we welcome drawings from the crayola set as well as calligraphic scrolls from our talented scribes.
• Post as many stories as you’d like–we have no limits (yet).
• Keep it clean, keep it courteous.
• DEADLINE REVISED:  Midnight, Sunday May 31 2009 June 15 2009 the day before the Council votes on the budget

Click here to open and print a “Tell Us Your Library Stories” PDF (drop them off at Lakeview Library)

Click here to “Tell us your Library Stories” electronically

Thanks!

The City wants to cut Lakeview Library’s services to 2-3 days per week.

The Lakeview Library is one of the most important services in our community. Last month Lakeview had over 10,000 visitors.  In addition to sharing books and media, Lakeview’s services include  a sanctuary for kids after school, public computer access, and a community gathering place.

It’s not too late!

You can change their minds!

You can make a difference!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Call, fax or email your city leaders today.
2. Paste a copy of your e-mail, fax or letter into this post’s comments.
3. Tell us your library story (see the next post http://lakeviewlibrary.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/tell-us-your-library-stories/)
4. Attend the budget meetings and tell the Mayor and Council directly.
5. Join the Friends of the Library and get active!

Thanks for your help.

Click HERE to paste the text of your e-mail or letter in our Comments