For Immediate Release
March 25, 2009
In light of the recent vote by the Lincoln Library Board to close the South and Bethany branch libraries, City Council Candidate Jayne Snyder has announced her opposition to the closings. “We must work together to find ways to balance the City Budget while protecting important city services,” Snyder stated. “These libraries play an important role in maintaining neighborhood vitality in more mature areas of Lincoln.”
Additionally, libraries play a part in boosting economic development. “I am committed to creating jobs and enhancing our economic development efforts,” Snyder says. “Closing neighborhood libraries flies in the face of our efforts to continue to attract employers to Lincoln.” According to the Public Library Association, a quality library system makes a community attractive to businesses and their employees.
In addition these libraries serve as resources for unemployed workers in search of jobs in these hard economic times. Many students and low income residents utilize the internet services provided by these libraries to search for employment options. Access to the internet is increasingly important to people both for locating job openings and in applying for jobs on-line. Many Lincoln residents rely on the internet access provided by Lincoln city Libraries to search for jobs. Closing these libraries would create a road block in their search for employment.
“Closing libraries could also result in greater costs to our community”, Snyder added. “Many children and youth utilize libraries and recreation centers during the late afternoon, a time when some are more likely to be supervised. When these places become unavailable to youth, juvenile crime rates tend to rise, increasing the cost of police and juvenile detention.
Snyder has called on the City Council to work to balance the needs of our growing city without sacrificing services in our existing neighborhoods. “If we do not work to protect our older neighborhoods as Lincoln grows, we will pay for it in the long run.”
Jayne Snyder is a lifelong Lincoln resident, small business owner, and community volunteer. Snyder is running for City Council to create jobs, protect our neighborhoods, and ensure accountability on the council. For more information please visit www.JayneSnyder.com
