YinzPitt

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is offended at the thought of closing any number of branch libraries around the city.   The proposed bill that’s close to being approved, would enable some of the table game revenue to be allocated to the various libraries around the city that are in danger of closing.  However, there is a deadline and it’s approaching fast.  November 1st, could spell the end of libraries located in Lawrenceville, Hazelwood, Beechview and the West End.

Pittsburgh Table Games

So, I think it’s pretty safe to say many elected officials are scrambling to to keep these libraries open and funded for the locale around those various areas, and to keep their names in the golden boys and girls spotlight.  Lou Testoni, the finance committee chair of the library’s board of directors had this to say about the libraries initiative during these troubled times:

“Many members of the Pittsburgh community and including state elected officials have engaged us recently in a dialogue about other funding sources for the library,” says Lou. “Many of these funding sources are still uncertain – they may or may not be materializing in the future.”

With a projected budget shortfall next year of $1.2 million, library officials felt they had no alternative.  I’m sure, from a child education standpoint and a job standpoint, it’s pretty much vital for these places to stay in working operation.  Also, not to mention these places are a source of great community entertainment, it’s hard to think what kind of extra money they will miss out through future endeavors.

This snippet was taken from the KDKA.com website regarding the plan for various funding from the table game proposal:

But sources tell KDKA political editor Jon Delano that a plan is the works to use revenue from local casino table games to boost the local support for the library.

It’s a two-fold approach; first, buy some time by raising the $1.2 million necessary to keep the branch libraries open for another year.

Then, create a public-private operations partnership to look for sustainable revenue – most likely from table games – that would allow the Carnegie Library to keep open all its branches.

Let’s hope this gets hashed out so everyone can learn and grow with the libraries that their parents and their parents, parents grew up with.