Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia

Celebrate Our Philly Libraries for National Library Week

📚 It's National Library Week 🐛

📖 Here are 3 ways to support your library:
1.) Get a library card
2.) Attend your local library’s events & programming.
3.) Advocate for increased support & funding.

McPherson Square Library community members and staff are pushing for repairs and renovations in Kensington.

“This is our go-to,” Theresa Grone said. “This is my children’s go-to. I know many children in the neighborhood who look up to this library, who come daily, who have nowhere else to go to stay warm or to eat.”

As a critical resource, Grone added that the library needs enough funding to install a ramp and improve the indoor and outdoor lighting, heating and air conditioning, and plumbing.

https://kensingtonvoice.com/en/kensington-petitions-for-repairs-renovations-at-mcpherson-square-library-park-philadelphia-rebuild/

Kensington petitions for repairs at McPherson: 'Many children in the neighborhood … have nowhere else to go to stay warm or to eat' Both McPherson Square Library and Park are Rebuild sites.

STATEMENT ON THE FREE LIBRARY 2023 BUDGET:

Last Thursday, the Free Library won an unprecedented $13 million on-year budget increase. Congratulations to the community members and Library workers who organized tirelessly through this budget season. Our win shows that organizing works! Community and worker solidarity builds power that produces results.

This budget is a massive win for libraries throughout Philadelphia. This 29% increase is the largest single-year increase the Free Library has seen in recent memory. Through the public pressure we have built over the last 5 years, we have pushed the Mayor and City Council to make libraries and public spaces a priority.

At the same time, the funding increase is not nearly enough to fund the libraries we deserve. The increase will not get us to 6 day service. It will not get us Digital Resource Specialists and Teen Librarians in every branch or ensure every Free Library worker is a permanent full time employee. It will not provide nearly enough money to fix our crumbling buildings.

In the next several months, the Free Library will be hiring workers to fill approximately 292 long-empty positions necessary to provide consistent and longer open-hours. Administrators, Mayor Kenney and City Council will be deciding how funds are allocated and how quickly hiring happens.

It’s critical that Free Library workers and community members continue organizing to ensure this additional money results in the expanded services we demand. Now is a great time to get involved in your branch Friends group!

As the country responds to news from the Supreme Court or another gun-related attack in our city, funding libraries must be a priority. Libraries are sanctuaries for all people. They are places we can get rest from the weather, get help using online portals to look for jobs or pay bills, get information on how to keep our families and each other safe, or attend a workshop to learn something new. They are places we can meet up with neighbors and learn about each other. They are places that give us anti-violence tools and mental health resources. They are places that employ Philadephians so that families have stable financial resources to support our economy. Libraries are Essential.

We look forward to continuing to build strength in our neighborhoods and fight for the expansive resources we need for a safe and healthy city!

AFSCME North Philly library workers Kayla and Tuesday:

"The $10 million increase in library funding proposed by Mayor Kenney and an additional $2.6 million that just passed in City Council is a step in the right direction, but it falls short of what we need to truly provide accessible, safe spaces, and high-quality services in our communities."

Philly library funding increase is a step in the right direction but falls short of what's needed. Kensington library workers say the libraries need more funding than what's included for the new fiscal year's City budget.

Check out this video from our rally last week!
There are a few more weeks left in this year's budget cycle - lets make sure to use them to call on council president Darrell L. Clarke and all of city council to fully fund the library and parks and rec department!
Thank you to Helen Gym for standing with us and speaking out for our vital public spaces!

Rally for Public Spaces On Thursday June 2nd, 2022 municipal workers and community members rallied to demand better funding for libraries, parks, and recreation centers from Philade...

Here are some photos from our rally yesterday! We are proud to partner with city workers, community members, public sector union leaders, the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, city councilperson Helen Gym, and everyone who came out to fight for fully funded and staffed libraries, parks, rec centers, and all our vital public spaces!

Check out this video coverage of our rally for public spaces yesterday! https://www.fox29.com/video/1077163

Philadelphia city council members, activists call on the mayor to properly fund Parks and Rec, libraries In an effort to provide safe spaces for kids, activists call on the mayor to increase the Parks and Rec and library budgets.

6/2 RALLY for Parks, Rec Centers & Libraries: Fund Public Spaces - https://mailchi.mp/7e6e4b62c6f3/today-tell-darrell-clarke-flp-needs-30m-more-16310219

Hello Friends,

Make sure to send Council President Clarke a message today to make sure a $30 million budget increase for the Free Library is a top priority.

Phone numbers: (215) 686-3442, (215) 686-3443
Email address: [email protected].

You can use our tools at tinyurl.com/FriendsToolbox to build out your message.

Thanks for your continued support!
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia Advocacy Committee