Who are the Friends of Rochambeau?
A group of caring individuals, families, and businesses dedicated to the support of the Rochambeau Library Branch... its facility, programs, services, resources, and the many people it serves. Learn more about the Friends of Rochambeau
The Friends of Rochambeau worked with Providence Parks Department and Partnership for Providence Parks to install three new Little Free Libraries! Here are two….
Each has a registration plaque in Spanish for increased access. They’re cute! and they are located on the world map of LFLs, viewable at https://littlefreelibrary.secure.force.com/mapPage
Little Free Libraries are great ways to share literacy and a love of reading with all the people in our service areas. Friends occasionally bring titles to the boxes, but the neighborhoods surrounding them have already started to share and share alike! Stop by your nearest box today!
(From the Providence Public Library)
NEWS RELEASE
Date: February 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tonia Mason, 401-455-8090; 401-487-7104
Mayor Opts Out of City/Library Agreement
Library Reviewing Options to Continue Services Moving Forward
PROVIDENCE, RI — In a disappointing development, the Providence Public Library (PPL) and the City administration have failed to achieve an agreement that outlines the process for ongoing funding and administering of City library services. The agreement was negotiated by the Library and City administration last summer, and approved by the City Council in November, but never signed by the City. Mayor Cicilline has now informed the Library that he wants a different process.
Although the Library has been funding the cost of maintaining existing services this year as envisioned by the Council-approved agreement, and paying for a deficit projected to exceed $1 million out of the Library’s endowment, the Mayor’s failure to sign has resulted in the City withholding Master Lease money that was to flow to the Library to help pay the current fiscal year’s expenses.
In the absence of an agreement, many questions remain regarding the future relationship between the City and the Library. The Providence Public Library now is reviewing its options and plans for administering Library service for the next Fiscal Year that begins in July.
“The focus for everyone involved needs to be on finding the best way to provide library service in the City,” said PPL Chairman William Simmons. “We remain open to ongoing discussions on how to achieve that goal and have communicated to the Mayor our willingness to work with him and the City Council.”
The newly formed Providence Community Library has garnered some support from members of the public and City Council. The Library has offered to work with the City to explore whether this may be a viable alternative for branch library service.
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On January 15th, representatives of the Providence Public Library, the Providence City Council, and the fledgling Providence Community Library met at Rochambeau Library for a public forum to answer questions from the community about the fate of several of the city’s library branches. The Providence Public Library has recently submitted a proposal intended to sustain the city’s financially troubled library system by removing from
In attendance for PCL were principals Marcus Mitchell and Linda Kushner. In Kushner’s opening remarks, she outlined the PCL plan, which calls for a less bloated administrative structure and promises more effective fund-raising. Drawing on her experiences sitting on the Friends of Rochambeau Board of Directors, she exposed also those elements that she believes have eroded the relationship between PPL and the branches and library patrons throughout the city.
During a vigorous question-and-answer session with the gathered patrons, librarians, library employees, and neighbors, a sense of anxiety prevailed. Many attendees swung between an acrimonious distrust of
Post by Gary Mercure, Friends of Rochambeau Library Board member
May 23, 2009
Beginning on July 1, 2009, the Providence Community Library will promote, support, organize and manage a nine-branch public library system in and for the city of Providence for the benefit of the community. Go to www.providencecommunitylibrary.org for more information on this important development.
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On January 15th the Friends hosted a panel discussion about the PPL’s current plans to close 5 of the Providence library branches and the Providence Community Library’s proposal to take over all of the branches.
A number of questions arose regarding the budgets of each organization. Attached are tables comparing Providence Community Library’s projected budget for next year with PPL’s actual branch budget for last year (2007‐08) and with PPL’s projected budget for operating Central plus four branches for next year (2009‐10). Click here to dowload the budgets and additional information.
Please go to www.providencecommunitylibrary.org to learn more about this grassroots organization working to keep all nine of the Providence Public Library branches open and serving our communities.