Letter from a Library Patron who loves Lakeview

Dear Lakeview Branch Library Patron,

You probably know of the budget deficit Oakland is dealing with at this time. To help solve the deficit the Mayor and his budget committee has submitted suggested cuts to services. Among those cuts is the recommendation to cut hours at Lakeview Branch Library to 3 days a week.

There will be public meetings at City Hall to tell City Council how you feel about this cut:

Thursday, May 28      1:00-4:00

Monday, June 1          4:00-7:00

Now is the time to contact the Director of the Library and all of City Council to let them know how you feel.  It is NOT TOO LATE!   We have until the beginning of July to change their minds!!!

Call, fax, or email our city leaders today:

Carmen Martinez (510) 238-3281,  cmartinez@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-3295

Mayor Ron Dellums (510) 238-3141,  officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-4731

Desley Brooks (510) 238-7006,  dbrooks@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Jean Quan (510) 238-7004,  jquan@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Pat Kernigan (510) 238-7002,   pkernighan@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Rebecca Kaplan (510) 238-7008,   atlarge@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Ignacio de la Fuente (510) 238-7005,  idelafuente@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Nancy Nadel (510) 238-7003,  nnadel@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Larry Reid (510) 238-7007,  lreid@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

Jane Brunner (510) 238- 7001,  jbrunner@oaklandnet.com Fax: 238-6129 and/or 238-6910

What to say:

Dear _________________

Do not cut hours of Lakeview Branch Library.

Sincerely,

• Here is how Lakeview ranks statistically out of 15 branches:
  • 7^th in check outs
  • 6^th in “touches” …that means check outs and check ins
  • 5^th in holds
• It is busier than most all of the libraries in programming.
  • 1 or 2 adult programs a month
  • Two art galleries booked until October 2010
  • 3 children’s story times a week!
  • A Lakeview Writers Group that meets monthly and has printed two small volumes of writings
  • A Book Club that meets monthy and has done so for years
  • 1 teen program every other month and often more than that
  • A chess club that meets weekly
  • A knitting club that meets weekly
  • A new chess group starting monthly Saturday meetings
  • 1 special large children’s program a month and/or
  • 1 special small children’s program a month
• We currently have 15 regular volunteers who donate 3 or more hours a week.
• Last month over 10,000 people were in Lakeview.

Lakeview is an important part of the community.  Most of our people walk here and do not go to other libraries.

Please use your own words.  Please write and call NOW!

For further information, go to the SAVE THE LIBRARIES website, started to save all the threatened libraries:

http://savethelibraries.spaces.live.com

Thank You