Children and Parents Protest Library Lockout

Jason Houk, 06.04.2007 21:15

All fifteen branches of the Jackson County Library closed and 115 county employees lost their jobs, while in Ashland Oregon, a group of children staged a sit-in, protesting the largest library closure in US history.

Childrens Crusade

Cops and Kids

Escorted out

It was a festive yet somber atmosphere Friday afternoon as library supporters and scores of patrons, parents and children gathered to support their public library and send a message to leaders in Salem and Washington that communities need public libraries.

Jackson County libraries were ordered closed, forcing the layoffs of 115 county employees when the state could no longer count on $150 million federal dollars in funding from timber deals made in the early 20th century. Locally, Jackson County voters rejected a ballot levy in 2006 that would have funded the libraries. It was assumed that local efforts to resume timber harvests would return the flow of the federal revenue but this has not been the case. Jackson County alone lost $23 million dollars a year.

Musicians played as passing cars honked their support. Children left chalk messages and wrote messages of hope on colorful ribbons that adorned the rails and bookmarks to be placed in library books. Adults joined hands, singing "Save Our Libraries" and chanting "1..2..3..4.. What are libraries really for?

Everyone from ABC news to high-school reporters converged onto chalk-stained steps outside the Ashland Library. Reporters for the Ashland Daily Tidings, Medford Mail Tribune, Channel 12 News, RVTV, the Media Collective, Rogue Indymedia Center, KSKQ News and the Ashland High School paper were all there along with countless individual cameras and recorders.

Outside the mood turned sober as the U.S. flag was lowered for a final time, marking closure of the 15 libraries across Jackson County. One citizen was overcome with anger, shouting out "This is a very rich town... It's Beverly Hills!" challenging the crowd, "You should never have let this happen!" Among the crowd some were quietly singing "We Shall Overcome!"

Inside the library it was a buzz of activity as the last hours passed. The last-minute books were returned, tears were shared and good-byes were exchanged. "I think I am going to sit out in front and cry." said one sad visitor.

Waiting for the inevitable closure, mothers and children gathered for a last stand in the Children's Library. Mothers nursed babies as children decorated cards for their favorite librarians. Sierra H., a dramatic middle-school student lamented, "I'd rather fall into a deep pit of jagged stones and slowly bleed to death in a terrible agony than live in a world without books!"

When it was finally announced, "I'd like you to know that the library is closed until further notice." the mood became more emotional. Parents worried and sobbed as their children continued playing as if unaware of the reality around them.

Some "very brave kids" had decided to stay and challenge the closure. The children, some as young as seven, brought sleeping bags and pillows, planning to stay overnight. "I don't know what they have in-store for us" worried one mother.

"The police are coming, they will be escorted out of the building in an orderly fashion." promised library manager Anne Billeter.

A short time later the children receved a friendly lesson in civil disobedience from Sargent Malcus Willams who arrived to escort the children out. "I knew this was coming ... I expect everything to go smoothly... I like to see people express themselves in a non-violent way." admitted Sgt. Williams.

"We learned the police were very concerned... We're going to cooperate and walk out hand and hand when its time to leave." announced Shelly E. who shared that the children all agreed to a code of non-violence.

Sgt. Williams approached the children as if it were career day, reading to the children and answering their grown-up questions, "When I'm on duty I represent the Ashland Police Force, I don't represent Malcus Williams."

From the book 'Leonardo The Terrible Monster', Williams read aloud, "Leonardo tried very hard to be scary but he just wasn't." The children befriended Officer Williams who later joked with the kids, "I learned about Captain Underpants today."

"I want to say thanks for loving us so much." gushed librarian Amy Blossom to the children as they were escorted outside to their parents, cameras and the appreciative crowd.

Vanessa H. a mother of a 17-month-old left disappointed, saddened that she and her daughter were "in the middle of a good book ... the library closed and [we] had to close the book and walk away" She finishes "How will it all end?"

e-mail:: jason@kskq.org

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photos from Friday 06.04.2007 - 23:23 Save our Librarys lowered for the last time camping out in the kids section Support libraries and support the commons! pogo> What a sad day for these communities.... 07.04.2007 - 07:21 I was saddened to read this article online. Libraries are a place of knowledge, but also a place of community and fellowship. I send my best wishes to these communities for their goverment leaders and residents to find the resources necessary to reopen their "hallowed halls of knowledge". Joy, Illinois> Are you Serious!! 07.04.2007 - 11:44 A library is one of a small handful of places a child can go. How is our future supposed to learn?? What about the No Child Left Behind Act? Do not tell me this is a positive measure to help our youngsters' lives? What are children supposed to do during vacations, weekends, SUMMERTIME?? I am in utter shock that a community can close ONE library, not to mention the number that this community had to close. Think of the children. Think of the future. Think of the great loss to society. What will become of these children? I predict more problematic issues will arise from this. If children have no place to go, , and parents can't afford to BUY the multitude of books from bookstores, online, etc. that a child can read for free in a library in order to keep up with others' children, what will happen when they apply to colleges, job interviews, , , , Please change your mind, for EVERYONE'S sake. Simone> e-mail:: sminichino@Hotmail.com check out videos from library closure 07.04.2007 - 13:52 Now that the libraries are locked and empty, the only thing you can check out are these videos from the last day.  http://www.rogueimc.org/en/2007/04/8220.shtml Please turn out and vote for 15-75, it is a double majority election and I need your help for other reasons you will soon find out. This coverage will soon be a feature on our front page, great job Jason and all our other volunteers. Steve Ryan> I say YES to keep the library OPENED 07.04.2007 - 15:37 A friend made me aware of this article..... And I just want to comment and plead for some rethinking there. I can remember back to very fond memories of visiting my local library when I was a child getting my first library card, and then when I was old enough when me and my friends could go walk there alone..... We spent a lot of our free time and Saturday after noon searching for books, and now I do the same with my children. Yes to libraries and YES to books.......... Lynell Parker> e-mail:: Llyraeparker@aol.com WAR ECONOMY FORCES LIBRARIES TO CLOSE 08.04.2007 - 15:44 Low end war economy totem sacrifices to the megabillion war corporate industrial economy supported by republican and democratic administrations. If 100,000 war contractors can't manage to get 130 Billion dollars amonth from US taxpayers there would be no library closures. All monies for US security contractors for one week would keep these libraries running for 100 years... Mike Ford> e-mail:: len_r@wowmail.com why pay property tax? 11.04.2007 - 13:31 People complain about the property tax going up.That's the wrong focus for those focused on money. They ought to think about their falling property values. Who wants to buy a house or set up a business in a county without libraries? _______ Levy for Property Value> Locking Up the Libraries 11.04.2007 - 13:39 My daughters have learned more in libraries than they learned in public schools. They are exceptional but not alone. How do you homeschool without libraries? How do you learn if you're lost in all of the peer pressure and racket of school, it's noisy and dysfunctional at home, and you really want to read? the unthinkable has happend>