Library Rally

There is a rally at Central Library, 150 Empire Street, Thursday May 12th.  The goal is to encourage the Providence Public Library to convey the community libraries to the rightful owners – the residents of the city of Providence.  City money paid for virtually all of the buildings in the current system, yet the PPL is refusing to fix, maintain or convey the buildings to the city, therefore jeopardizing the ability for the new Library management, Providence Community Libraries (PCL), to keep all libraries open.

This issue is vital to our city’s educational and cultural core.  Please come out to support this cause.

Library Friends Group Letter to PPL

The Providence Community Library has been managing the community library system for the last year, but it has no control over the buildings since they are still owned by the PPL (providence Public Library) and it refuses to do any work that is desperately needed.

This letter was prepared by all the Library Friends Groups in the Providence Community Library system.  It asks the PPL to address the building concerns that threaten many of our community’s libraries.  If you believe in our neighborhood libraries and are upset about the benign neglect that has been allowed to go unchecked for years in these buildings, please download and send a copy to PPL.  You can also talk to your State Senator, Representative and City Council person about your belief in the need for a strong and functioning library.

Fix Our Libraries Now!, Support Letter

Smith Hill Library’s Staff Appreciation Day Celebration

Please join the Smith Hill Friends Group for our Staff Appreciation Day Celebration.

The party will be June 7, 2010, from 4:15 – 5:45  at The Smith Hill Library, Where else?

Our Staff members are intelligent, informative,supportive, caring and fun!!

Let’s show Alan, Amy, Jennifer and Joey how much we appreciate all that they do to make our trips to the Smith Hill Library pleasant and informative journeys! There will be Food, Games, Prizes, Music and More…

Library Celebration

All Providence Library branches will be celebrating the transfer of management to the Providence Community Library. Please come out and support this monumental shift in focus for the branch system. Many people have worked tirelessly on this transition and it is time to celebrate!  The new PCL website is http://provcomlib.org.

Smith Hill’s local celebration is Wednesday, July 1

4-7 pm at the Candace St. Library.

All are welcome!

LIBRARY FORUM WEDNESDAY, FEB 4th

Providence Community Library

Monday’s Providence Community Library press conference at city hall went very well. People from over two dozen community organizations were on hand to listen and speak, and NINE City Councilors participated. For a slide show on the press conference, please click here. The ProJo covered the conference in Tuesday’s paper (see below), and the story was picked up by the Los Angles Times book blog, Jacket Copy.

Smith Hill Branch Library Threatened by PPL Plan

Smith Hill Branch Library is one of five Providence branches threatened with closure in Providence Public Library’s new sustainability Plan. The following includes an open letter from the Library Reform Group and a Providence Journal article printed today, December 19, 2009. For information about how to get involved in efforts to save the Smith Hill Branch please see the Library Friends Page.

Library Rally: Change in Venue!

PRESS CONFERENCE: Change in Venue!!!
PPL PROPOSED AGREEMENT with CITY is FLAWED!
HE MAYOR AND PPL NEED TO
GO BACK AND FIX IT!

Today at 5:00 p.m., the Library Reform Group will hold a press conference in the former Benny’s building at 1380 Broad Street to bring to public attention the provisions of the Agreement for Library Services

Library Reform Group Rally

Library Reform Group PROJO Commentary

The Providence Public Library is facing a 1 million dallar deficit for the next fiscal year, which threatens all braches including our own Smith Hill branch. The implications of this fiscal crisis are dire for Providence families. You can learn more about this important issue on our site’s Library Page. The following is a commentary posted in the Providence Journal on Thursday May 8th, by library advocate, Linda Kushner