TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to explore funding sources to keep the City of Long Beach Public Libraries open one additional day a week in time for the Fall Academic Year.
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach takes pride in its commitment to public education: the renowned LBUSD, LB College District and CSULB assure that Long Beach residents have access to all levels of educational within our city limits. Our formal education system is augmented by our libraries, which provide our children and our neighborhoods with valuable resources for information and educational enrichment.
The development of a healthy and safe city is contingent upon access to resources such as our neighborhood libraries. The City Manager's Three-Year Plan, implemented with City Council support, necessitated the sacrifice of core city services - including our public library system. We must work with the city manager to direct city savings toward restoring this essential community
resource.
Before we ask our citizens to support a public safety measure in November, we must assure them that we have not abandoned our children and our neighborhoods. Our quality of life cannot be maintained without accessible neighborhood libraries.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.