Kim Cooper, Save LAPL co-creator, reports a good turnout at yesterday's rally downtown, the purpose of which was to convince the Planning and Budget Committee not to slash the public library's budget by $2 million. Yesterday was open meetings; today's budget committee meetings concerning the library are closed.

Kim estimates "4 librarians and 7 members of the public spoke on behalf of the library, and about as many arts producers on behalf of Cultural Affairs. There was one whole row of people clutching library books in support of the cause, which was very good to see."

Kim passed along to Chicken Corner some interesting points from the discussion:

In the last year, 14.7 million people visited Disneyland and 16 million used LAPL.

The LAPL budget is the same as ten years ago--despite 6 more libraries in the system now and much higher use.

The proposed $2 Million cut translates to 100,000 new books divided among 72 libraries divided among twelve months = 114 new books per month for each library, to serve an average of 55,000 people.

Many cities offer much longer library hours, 7 days a week, and spend much more per person on books. Nonetheless, we are looked to for how our library has succeeded, especially with the bonds that fund new library construction.

A Mar Vista librarian said if the library didn't continually update its collection, it risks becoming a museum. She felt LAPL had been punished for budgeting its book money well when the mid-year budget adjustment swept in and took away $2Million that had not been spent yet.

Roy Stone of the Librarian's Guild (and Fairfax Branch) noted that librarians had put together a new efficiency plan, which they urged the committee to consult before laying anyone off. Also, he noted that the library saves the city a lot of money by providing a safe place for teens--their only safe haven in many neighborhoods.

A Vernon librarian who was opposed to cutting the book budget, noting that the unemployed need up-to-date job resources. Also, losing programs for teens and college prep means an alternative to gangs is missing from the community.

Click here to hear Kim Cooper on Which Way L.A.

I'm going to be thinking about those 14-16 million stats when I go to Disneyland the week after next for the first time since I was five years old. So, let's see, Chicken Corner counts thousands of library visits in roughly half a lifetime (optimistically speaking), vs. two visits to Disneyland (one them not yet accomplished). Hmm.