From a locked out shut-in

Yesterday we heard from a woman who needs our library even more than most of us. She writes:

I am a shut in senior, with a terminal disease. The library is very, very important to me, in fact with the inferior and pathetic quality of TV programming, reading is the greatest pleasure in my life - and the ability to get large type books has been taken away from me.

I have been emailing politicians, members of the library board, and various others from lists on this site and one that I received from Robert Fleming. The replies I have received have either indicated that the email has been passed to someone else to deal with, or that the person I emailed has nothing to do with the matter, even though that person may be listed as being on a pertinent committee.

Which brings me to the question, which is not answered in all my emailing -- WHO ACTUALLY ORDERED THE LIBRARIES TO CLOSE AND WHERE DID THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY GOT THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS? SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DECISION, THAT IS A DIRECT ACT OF ROBBERY TO THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC.

I believe that this mess can begin to be sorted out by answering this question, and directing initiation for correction to this entity whoever they are. We need to know where in their terms of reference it gave them permission to institute this action.
Vera Sivertson

Vera, your questions are good ones. The GVPL Board voted unanimously to lock us out of our library. We believe that that decision was taken because the GVLRA negotiator recommended it. At the GVLRA, only one board member, Pam Madoff, voted against the lockout. These board members are seriously out of touch with the public. The It's Our Library Rally next Tuesday (11am to noon, at the Central Library) will help to convince them that it's time for binding arbitration and an end to the lockout. We understand you can't be there, Vera, but we hope that your friends show up on your behalf.