The KOLP achievement is not the conclusion of our efforts, but a testament to what we can accomplish when united. Save Blasco! is a rallying cry for communities everywhere to protect public spaces, demand accountability, and participate actively in local governance.
WHAT THE SETTLEMENT WON:
Lease cut from 25 years to 10 years
Free public access to Gannon leased space during library hours
Lease revenue dedicated to special library fund
No Gannon access to Idea Lab or classrooms and access to Hirt Auditorium/Admiral Room limited to paid use
Monthly usage reports to Library Director&Board
Gannon Nash Library use and WAIVED fees for Erie County Public Library card holders
Required public review for any future library leases or sales
THESE PROTECTIONS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE LAWSUIT
Please donate to help settle our remaining legal balance - online tax exempt at https://www.fundlibraries.org/erie or send a check to the address at https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/donate/
To: County Executive Brenton Davis, and County Council members and Gannon
Keep Our Library Public SAVE BLASCO!
Stand With Us Against Misuse of Public Resources
Keep Our Library Public (KOLP) has filed a legal complaint in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas to prevent 3200 square feet of Blasco Erie County Public Library in Erie County, PA from being leased to a tax-exempt, private, religious university.
Keep Our Library Public (KOLP) has filed a legal complaint in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas to prevent 3200 square feet of Blasco Erie County Public Library in Erie County, PA from being leased to a tax-exempt, private, religious university.
- Reconnect with us and get updates and ask others to sign our petition at https://www.fightforthefirst.org/petitions/keep-our-library-public
- Read the lawsuit we filed (trial set for December 1-3) to Stop Brenton Davis and Gannon from taking public space in the Blasco Library. https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/faqs/#why-are-we-suing-the-county-executive
- Watch our documentary Save Blasco!
- Please DONATE to support our lawsuit:
Donations here https://www.fundlibraries.org/erie are tax deductible - 90% to KOLP and 10% to Every Library to help libraries across the country
OR - You can kick it old school by mailing a check to Keep Our Library Public; PO Box 8361; Erie PA 16505. Donations here are not tax-deductible. 100% goes to KOLP
Why is this important?
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and some members of the County Council have wrongly entered into a lease agreement with Gannon University, a private, religious, tax-exempt institution without input or approval from taxpayers. The lease grants Gannon the takeover of 3200 square feet as well as access to substantial portions of the only public library located within the City of Erie—the Raymond M. Blasco Memorial Library.
Members and supporters of “Keep our Library Public” (KOLP) span all ages, genders, incomes, backgrounds, and political affiliations. We live and pay taxes in municipalities throughout Erie County. We believe our elected officials should carry out their official duties openly, responsibly, and with reasonable input from their constituents—the residents and taxpayers of Erie County.
But over and over again, our elected officials, the Bishop of the Erie Diocese, and the Gannon University administration, have ignored the voices of library users and hardworking taxpayers. The past County Council Chairman denied our right to speak at a December 2023 public meeting, and even had people removed from that meeting.
Sign and share this petition to tell our elected leaders and Gannon to listen to taxpayers, keep our public library public, and cancel the lease immediately.