Detroit Libraries Closing: Protesters Stage Sit-in At Lincoln Branch

The 11 protesters that were led out of a building and into a police van Thursday night may have been the last patrons of the Detroit Public Library's Lincoln Branch.

Community and social action groups came together to protest the library's closure, announced by the library commission in November. Due to lack of funds, four DPL branches were set to be shuttered on Thursday, among them, the Lincoln branch.

The branch closure protests were organized by the Hawthorne Neighborhood Block Club, Hull Street Block Club, BAMN, and Occupy Detroit. Around 50 people turned up to protest outside the Lincoln branch.

Protesters planned a sit-in beginning early in the day and a rally just before the library's normal closing time of 5 p.m. But DPL shut down the entire library system at 4 p.m. without advance notice, according to Laurie Stuart, a librarian at the Frederick Douglass branch and president of UAW 2200, which represents some DPL librarians.

(Stuart said the union, though not supportive of the library closures, also did not endorse the protests.)

By 4:30 p.m., the Lincoln library had closed and the public had been made to leave. But 11 protesters and three security guards remained.

Joyce Schon of the civil rights group By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), was one of the sit-in participants. She told The Huffington Post that protesters were threatened with felony charges. A video uploaded to UStream purportedly captured the group inside the library and an official off-camera telling the protesters they had to leave.

Close to 6 p.m., a police van arrived at the back door of the library. The Detroit News reports "police led at least two protestors away in handcuffs," but and witnesses at the scene said police officers led all 11 protesters into the vehicle.

At a Library Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, community members offered alternatives to full closures.

BAMN National Coordinator Donna Stern said one idea was to leave all the equipment and books in the libraries and run the branches with a volunteer staff.

Juliet Machie, deputy director of DPL, said the commission was open to suggestions, but noted using exclusively volunteers would be difficult due to union rules.

"Our library board made a commitment to review all the recommendations," Machie said. "There are things you can use volunteers to accomplish in a library system but there are also certain functions that are at the core of being a trained librarian."

"We got here because of revenue shortfalls and at the end of the day you've got to make hard decisions," Machie said. "Demand for our services is going up, and funding is going down."

Emma Howland-Bolton knows first-hand the demand for library services. She is a fifth-grade teacher at Mason Elementary and a member of Occupy Detroit's facilitation team. The Lincoln branch is less than a mile and a half away from the school and is an invaluable resource for Howland-Bolton's students.

"Our school does not have a working library so that's the library we use," she said. "Kids go there to do there homework ... to access the Internet, use the computers, take out books. It's a quiet, safe, public space where they can get work done."

Her fifth-grade students have a science project due after winter break. Howland-Bolton said most were planning to do their projects at the library.

"It's upsetting because this isn't a library that no one is going to," Howland-Bolton said. "It's a hub of the community."

Her students wrote letters to the library commissioner and made signs for the Thursday night protest. "They have a very developed sense of justice," she said.

Howland-Bolton provided a letter from one of her students to the library commissioner:

Hey,

My name is Benny and please don't shut down our library. It's the best library ever. I go to Mason Elementary and I have to do my science project at home. But I can't, because I don't have a computer. So I have to do my project somewhere else. And that's at the Lincoln branch.

Also I like to read books because my reading teacher said I had to pull my reading level up and I'm at a second grade reading level. And I'm in the fifth grade.

Please don't close the Lincoln branch.

Sincerely,

Benny

Comments

[Jennifer Kley]

01:15 PM on 12/27/2011

Gosh, the things I could go on and on about regarding libraries and how they're becoming more and more about internet usage (WiFi) than reading and studying the contents of the very building. Oh, the days (the 1980's anyone?) of old when libraries were quiet havens and bookworms such as me could hide out in there for hours on end.
I wish I had gobs of money to donate to all of my local libraries, even with the annoying WiFi-only people.

http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[lau534]

10:25 PM on 12/26/2011

I think it is a shame libraries are closing. They are needed more than ever. Where will people go to check out a book, use the computer, and where will children go to check out books? The poor need access too. I thought we wanted our citizens to have knowledge. One of those places is the library.

[corwin]

01:07 PM on 12/27/2011

1) There are still libraries left in Detroit
2) people can also go to Ferndale, Royal Oak,GP etc to use a library
3)Atlas is Shrugging.
4) There was no solution you entered as to where the money was to originate

[GraceNotes]

05:21 PM on 12/28/2011

Well, let's just send Benny the bus fare to get to these other branches.

[bardofoc]

09:21 AM on 12/24/2011

Once again, leave it to the unions to muddle everything up and ruin it for the rest of us.

[realmystical]

08:32 PM on 12/23/2011

Who edits this stuff. ...do there homework....wow, I expect better but guess we won't be getting better if libraries keep being closed.

[Cecelia Cannady]

10:01 AM on 02/08/2012

Who does the editing for this? I could only hope that they had done THEIR homework. I had expected better. However, it appears that if libraries are continuously being closed things will get worse before they get better.

[Christopher Currie]

08:19 PM on 12/23/2011

cities need more libraries. More funds are needed. Private donors, corporations, step up. Federal government, tax the wealthy more, too.

[bardofoc]

09:18 AM on 12/24/2011

Sorry, but you posted on an American board and not a Chinese one. Better luck next time, Pinko.

[DJMarian]

05:45 PM on 12/24/2011

You're right. The poor always want someone else to pay for the services they use at the same time not paying any taxes.

[bootxpp]

05:32 PM on 12/23/2011

For too long certain special groups have been getting something for nothing. Now that the left wing Dem's can no longer buy their votes with entitlements I guess they'll have to face reality----T-H-E-R-E I-S N-O- S-A-N-T-A C-L-A-U-S-E!!!!! There's just the middle class who's been paying for everything and there broke now due to discrimination by the Rich and the poor against them. We've wasted 12 Trillion on Left wing Dem's war on poverty and are inner cities are worse then they were in the sixties!!! Have you been to the inner city lately---were you accompanied by armed guards???

[realmystical]

08:34 PM on 12/23/2011

I, a representative of the middle class, will gladly pay to keep libraries open. The disadvantaged need access to computers and life-long learning.

[corwin]

11:14 AM on 12/24/2011

Is your check in the mail? It hasn't arrived .And,please be sure it's certified.
If not,may I suggest the families move to a Republican governed area,where public services can be found

[bootxpp]

11:15 AM on 12/24/2011

Mam, have you ever heard the saying you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, or if you give a man a fish, you feed him for one day, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a life time?

12 trillion dollars has been dumped in the inner city because of the left wing Dem's war on poverty-----it taught no one anything----It ended up just being another form of wealth redistribution. Which in there greed was all they intended. They felt they were owed it???

I have Irish ancestors who too were made into slaves by the British and then the Americans. They were actually the first slaves imported to America, to the West Indies. Because they died like flies, they started importing black slaves too. Yet I don't feel I'm owed anything for what happened to my ancestors, if anything they didn't either, they just wanted to have the chance to be free.

Maybe I'd better translate that a little better for you bleeding heart liberals: The left wing Dem's were Giving people stuff buying their votes with entitlements---not teaching them how to fish!!!! And as long as your getting free stuff, like housing, medical, food etc why should you learn how to fish???

[Toka313]

01:46 PM on 12/24/2011

The rich are the special group getting something for nothing. General Electric gets something for nothing. The Banks got something for nothing. There is no war on poverty, there is a war on the middle class, and that's the only war that the US is winning and the middle class is losing.

[bootxpp]

10:58 PM on 12/24/2011

Well you almost got it, but yes there was a war on poverty but not for reasons you might suspect. Not even for wealth redistribution, but to destroy a free capitalistic Government---ours!!! And replace it with a Communist one. And you'd never guess who's behind it all.

But its Christmas eve and I'm going to let you do the research and find that out for yourself------Merry Christmas!!!

http://conservative-ideals.org/ClowardPivenMethod.aspx

[Pax333]

05:24 PM on 12/23/2011

It's tragic how banal the face of evil can be. Closing the libraries in this current economy takes a special kind of mean spirited heart that I find myself, yet again, wondering if there isn't an actual plan to create an uneducated, desperate slave class in the US.

[corwin]

11:22 AM on 12/24/2011

I wonder about that too. Of course,money that goes to library salaries,heat,power,acquisitions etc is either delivered via leprecaun or having Superman fly in the gold. But,even without this,isn't it telling the cities collapsing (Flint,Detroit,BH,Saginaw, even Chicago and SL ) are long time Republican strongholds ?All these Repubs had to do was pick up the gold those little Irish pranksters left and bills would be paid.And,and...those Repub strongholds would be abolished.Still, I have to wonder why those eveil republican mayors (of Flint,St L,Chicago etc) not just collect the free gold.You seem uncommonly able to write banal logic free posts.Could you please explain?

[Pax333]

11:32 AM on 12/24/2011

Gee, I'd like too but as you don't seem able to feel any compassion or see past the end of your own nose, wants and desires what would be the point? It escapes me where you read that I hand one opinion or the other about Republicans being to blame though I will confess, I can see where you are coming from.

Libraries offer disadvantaged people a place to acquire books, education, access to computers and other little tidbits that will assist them to learn, grow and get an education. Ain't I just an evil b!tch thinking that's important?

As you apparently don't care about others quality of life I suspect you also support coal, got a cup for my stocking? That'll learn me!

[Toka313]

01:50 PM on 12/24/2011

This is about the dumbest argument ever. Cities that are poor elect democrats. Not democrats get elected and the city becomes poor. Your causation is way backwards. Bring back Hazen Pingree!

[robear6987]

05:10 PM on 12/23/2011

to everyone who thinks protesters and protesting is just an inconvience and a waste of time. the new momentum around the country is to jail protesters,. something that is protected under the constitution. there has been talk about stripping the protesters of thier right to vote . the most basic fudimental right is being attacked and condemmed. the schools are having trouble and now libraries are closing . does any of this seem rational or reasonable . hell congress is spending 10 milliojn dollars to re-writs sesamee street for pakistan kids, yet our kids dont get the right school books and dont get access to libraries. congress is spending 734 thousand on a program called pancakes for yuppies and yet we cant feed the homeless. a rep in congress by the name of colburn ha spointed out theese wastefull programs , and he said there is at least a hundred more of theese wacky and outrageous bills. its way past time for a mass protest. think again befor you belittle or talk bad about protesters , they are doing what we all should be doing . GETTING VERY UPSET ABOUT ALL THE WASTEFULL SPENDING AND NONE OF IT IS BEING SPENT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE .

[shawn brandli]

12:20 PM on 12/23/2011

Never understood why protesters are arrested in this country. Westboro baptist protests whoever they want, do they get arrested? No. I'm sure arresting innocent U.S. citizens practicing their right to free speech will help them find jobs.

[empress trudy]

10:43 AM on 12/23/2011

save the books. you'll need to burn them for the long cold winter up there.

[realmystical]

08:36 PM on 12/23/2011

Fanned that is exactly the attitude of the current michigan regime. When they're not trying to ban books, they are trying to kill off education that can be sought out by motivated individuals who may not have access to books and computers. Not everyone can afford Nooks and I-Pads.

[chergoyle3]

10:31 AM on 12/23/2011

The best way to keep the common man ignorant is to remove institutions of intellectual stimulation. It's true, computers can be a wonderful tool for learning, but the media is easily manipulated and history as well as science can be rewritten in digital "reference" material. When technology seeks to control our thinking by way of rewritten "truth" we are well served by an original and respected text in black and white in our hands. Libraries in my city are more than just warehouses for books and ideas. They host adult literacy classes, children's reading events, contests for writers, book reviews and much more. They also provide meeting rooms for ordinary citizens to gather without the fees charged by hotels or the religious requirements of churches. Government has ripped away some of the richness from the lives of several generations. By removing art and music and true physical education from education, we have created shallower, more self-involved, less healthy individuals. By closing libraries as a first resort, we reserve intelligent discovery, refinement and healthy living to those who have libraries in their homes and can afford finishing schools and personal trainers for their children.

It's just another way to cull the herd.

[robear6987]

05:23 PM on 12/23/2011

CORPORATE AMERICAS FACIST AGENDA FOR THE TAKE OVER OF AMERICA !] DESTROY THE MONITARY SYSTEM-2] -INFILTRATE GOVERNMENT AND RE-WRITE EXISTING LAWS IN THIER FAVOR AND RE-WRITE PERSONAL LIBERTIES LAWS TO HAMPER PERSONAL LIBERTIES-3- MAKE EVRYONE HOMELESS -4- GET RID OF HIGH OR MEDIUM HIGH PAYINF JOBS.-5- GET RID OF UNIONS SO CORPORATE AMERICA CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH THE EMPLOYEE'S AND THE PEOPLE WONT MIND CAUSE THEY WILL BE SOOOO HUNGARY FOR WORK THEY WILL DO ANYTHING OR TAKE ANY PAY.-6-POISON THE WATER SUPPLY OF AMERICA WITH IRRESPONSIBLE FRACTURE DRILLING AND THEN SCREW UP THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO TAKE FULL AFFECT OF THE WATER BEING POISONED.-7-POISON THE FOOD SUPPLY AND BARELY REGULATE IT SO IT SPREADS DISEASE AND SICKNESS.-8-DESTROY THE PRIVATELY OWNED FARM LANDS OR FARMERS SO MASSES HAVE TO BUY CORPORATE OWNED FARM FOODS TAINTED WITH CHEMICALS AND G.M.O.'S.-9-ALLOW BANKS TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN RISKY INVESTMENTS AND THEN WE CAN GIVE THEM MASS AMOUNTS OF MONIES SO THEY CAN DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IN SOME OTHER WAY AND GIVING THE BANKS MORE POWER AND INFLUENCE IN OUR ECONOMY. i could go on but hope fully you guys see a pattern here that crates strife and discontent among the people.

[bootxpp]

06:22 PM on 12/23/2011

You mean left wing Dem's agenda for taking over America----aren't they the ones that came up with the Cloward–Piven communist strategy for overloading the welfare rolls to break New York and to take that strategy nation wide?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloward%E2%80%93Piven_strategy

Also the sub prime mortgage crisis was the result of the politically correct left wing Dem's who insisted poor people should own a home----even those on welfare???

And lastly the twelve trillion spent by the left wing Dem's war on poverty which started in the sixties----to buy minority votes and redistribute the wealth. How's that workin? See any improvement in the inner cities---oh you didn't go to the inner city----Couldn't get a police escort????

Lastly I heard there's more rich left wing Dem corporations then there are Republican? Plus Obama bailed out major wall street banks and corporations especially Goldman Sachs his biggest campaign contributors in 2008.

Yeah the Rich and corporate America, they're not even a factor in what's happening to America----its the Communists that are taking over America----our media, our banking system, are political system etc.

By over taxing and over regulating small business----killing are economic recovery so they can say look capitalism is a failure lets try socialism and the re-distribution of wealth----or Communism. I got news for you, they're will be no wealth to re-distribute once our businesses go under!!!

[corwin]

08:17 PM on 12/24/2011

A couple of things.
1) Capitalization impresses no one. Not even Democrats. On HuffPo
2)Haldol is generic now. Think about getting on it.

[Jeffrey Ligan]

08:56 AM on 12/23/2011

My father used the English renaissance style Monteith Branch on the eastside in the early 40's as a place to study after school at Southeastern High, from which he graduated.

What is so sad is that people are using these branches in much GREATER numbers than they had been, and demand for library space is up locally, and the decision to shutter branches is criminal in my view.

Not to mention these magnificent buildings, many built with patrimony from the Carnegie system, will be stripped by vandals for their parts and burned within a week of closing, as has been the case will all previous Detroit Public Library branches- the city has no police protection, and they don't respond to property crimes at all anymore.

Preservationists need to get active and do something to save them either in place, or get someone to move them to places where they won't be destroyed.

[MSGret1]

08:37 AM on 12/23/2011

Patrons of the Library should be concerned about the closure. It is the beginning of things to come with government cutting back on services to taxpayer. This must be done to support the non-taxpayer, illegal immigrants, and government supported labor union teachers, who pay no taxes.

[Toka313]

01:58 PM on 12/24/2011

Undocumented immigrants pay taxes, in fact, they put in more tax money in the system than they get out of it in services. That research has been conducted time and time again.

Additionally, government workers also pay taxes. They don't pay Social Security tax, because they DON'T GET SOCIAL SECURITY. That's why the cities have an obligation to fund their pension according to the law. Your "facts" are false.

Lastly, the library was not shut down due to funding according to the library commission. It was shut down due to lack of staffing. Strike 3. Sit down.

[mooncop1]

07:14 AM on 12/23/2011

In order for the politicians of Detroit to continue to waste money you must make sacrifices.

[MJinCanada]

02:28 AM on 12/23/2011

First of all, demand to see the library system's budgets. Sometimes they're lying when they say there's no money. And petition like heck. And demand public meetings to make the administration justify the closures. Invite teachers, seniors, students, parents and local merchants and realtors (a library in the community adds value to homes there).

A few years ago, the library board in my city suddenly announced that it was closing 3 inner-city libraries because of budget deficits. It was right after a civic election and should have been an issue, but the mayor and counselors kept it quiet until they were re-elected.

After several requests, the library board finally released the full budget, which showed little or no deficit and a healthy building fund.

Further budget and cost data revealed that the three libraries scheduled for closure were actually the most cost effective in the system, based on staff, building and operating costs per item loaned, partly because they were so busy for their size. In short, closing those three branches was a stupid place to start trimming a budget.

And then there was the petition. And there were meetings that had to be held in rec centres because the affected libraries couldn't hold all the people who showed up to fight for their libraries.

The library board chair resigned, the branches stayed open, and the very smallest branch now has a new space three times the size of the old one.

[brinniewales]

08:58 AM on 12/23/2011

Excellent ideas!