Thursday, August 31, 2017

Help us STOP outsourcing of our Escondido Library- There is still time

If you support our Library

Mayor Abed, Gallo, Masson need to hear from you  

Last week, Escondido Mayor Sam Abed and Councilmembers Ed Gallo and John Masson voted to move forward to outsource operations of the Escondido Public Library to the private, for-profit, out-of-state corporation Library Systems and Services (LS&S) which specializes in taking over failing libraries. But, ours isn’t failing. 
We are proud of our library and its great staff and programs. Outsourcing would spell the end of our library as we know it.

Please join the 3,000 residents already opposing outsourcing the library because: 
·    We would lose local control of an important city resource.
·    Our local tax $$ would go to a corporate organization in Maryland, not stay here in our community.
·    The cost-benefit analysis did not correctly assess all impacts.
·    No alternatives (there are many) were publicly evaluated so that the best option could be selected.
·    This action will further divide the community and erode support for a bond for a new library.
·    This action will cause a loss of volunteers, donations, and skilled library personnel.
·    Outsourcing of our library is opposed by the Escondido Library Board of Trustees, Library Foundation, and American Library Association

Our library is more than a building; it is the programs and people who make it the soul of the community. We need to preserve our library as a true community resource, responsive to the needs of our residents. Although Council took one vote (3-2) to move forward, a contract has not yet been signed. Please speak out and stand up for our librarians, patrons, and library programs.  There is still time!   

WE NEED TO ACT NOW!

CONTACT Mayor Sam Abed, Ed Gallo, and John Masson.
Email or call Mayor's Office: 760-839-4610 , City Council's Office: 760-839-4638
Email them all at once using this link:   https://www.escondido.org/city-council-contact-us.aspx   or send a letter to 201 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025

Ask them to:
1.       Stop the LS&S contract process.
2.      Solicit, evaluate, and consider, at a minimum, proposals from the current library department and county through a public process.
3.      Impanel a Budget Committee to develop a comprehensive, sustainable plan to address the pension crisis and the paydown of pension liability
CONTACT LS&S and ask them to withdraw their proposal and step away from our library. 
President Paul Colangelo at 800-638-8725 Paul.Colangelo@lsslibraries.com
Ed Garnett, Vice President, Business Development, Ed.Garnett@lsslibraries.com
2600 Tower Oaks Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852, Office: 301.540.5100 Cell: 410.598.2921  

SHOW YOUR LOVE To our wonderful current library staff.  Email jaxelrod@escondido.org  

TALK to your friends and neighbors.  Help Save our Library services!  

SIGN UP Email us at SaveEscondidoLibrary@gmail.com






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