The Good News:
- The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) has 2 million visitors annually. That is a record breaking 6,000 visitors every day!
The Bad News:
- The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) does not have the money to keep up with its growing number of programs and patrons.
The Point is: Your CLP Library needs your help!!!
What YOU can do:
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Know the facts:
- Andrew Carnegie DID NOT endow the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
This means: The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is not guaranteed a certain amount of money each year . Instead, the library depends on sales tax (71.8%), state funding (20.5%), income (4.3%), fundraising (3.2%) and the City of Pittsburgh (0.2%).
The problem is: More people than ever are using library resources (which is great!), but the library’s sources of funding are all expected to decrease or remain constant.
- For more information visit the Libraries for Life website and , of course, your local library.
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Tell people about what the library means to you:
Contact your local, state, or national representative: Politicians take your opinions very seriously (despite what you may think). A letter from one teen represents the views of many of their friends and future voters. So get a pen and paper and just do it!
Talk to your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else that you know : A lot of people who use and care about the CLP libraries don’t even know that the libraries are struggling, but now that you do you can tell them that their library needs their help now more than ever.
Start a library advocacy campaign: One person can make a difference! Ask your local librarian about starting a letter writing campaign, postering, making a movie, or any other idea that you may have about advocating for the library. Don’t be shy. Librarians love the library too, and they would love to help.
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Come to the Town Hall Meetings:
Town Hall meetings are: opportunities for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to ask YOU (the public) for your recommendations and continued support for the library. Make a list or think about how the library could improve its services or how you could help the library out.
Teens are welcome: Please don’t think that the meetings are only for “old” people. Teenagers are smart and innovative (often more so than adults), and your opinions MATTER: It is important that they are taken into consideration when decision are made. Please come, and bring your friends!
What you need to know:
- Times/Locations:
- Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. -> CLP – Main; Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue
- Saturday, July 18, at 10 a.m. -> Carrick High School; Auditorium, 125 Parkfield Street
- Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. ->CCAC-Allegheny Campus; SSC Auditorium, 808 Ridge Avenue
- Each meeting is 90 minutes long and will include a brief presentation and opportunities for you to speak up!
- Your recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Trustees and will be considered for the 2010 Budget.
See you there!
Thank you!
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