100 signatures reached
To: Tigard City Council
Tell Council: Save Tigard Public Library Staff
The Budget Committee recently passed a proposed FY27 budget with significant cuts to Tigard Public Library. Some Council Members stepped up to support library staff, but more Council votes are needed to make a difference. City Council makes a final decision on June 9. Advocacy in the weeks leading up to the meeting is key!
HOW TO HELP
HOW TO HELP
- Show up! Council meets on Tuesdays at City Hall. Public comment is accepted in-person at 6:30PM, or online the day before (Mondays) at noon: https://www.tigard-or.gov/your-government/council/city-council-public-comment-form
- Check out this helpful guide to public comments for templates!
- Sign and share this petition! Tell City Council to restore funding for ALL filled library staff positions.
Tigard voters passed Measure 34-345 last fall to maintain library services. The City of Tigard's proposed budget betrays voter values by cutting $432,000 for library personnel, materials, and services... while transferring $600,000 in General Funds for a failed Police/Public Works new building bond measure, and setting aside $500,000 in General Funds for an unspecified new City manager's goals.
Restoring all filled library positions costs only $165,000.
Restoring all filled library positions costs only $165,000.
You have a mandate to fulfill the will of the people who voted for library services, not cut them." -Public Comment, May 4
Why is this important?
The proposed personnel cuts eliminate 3 positions from the Library's de-escalation/incident response team: 2 vacancies and the Library Social Services Coordinator. These staff cuts:
- make the Library a less safe and welcoming space for everyone;
- increase the workload for remaining staff, reducing their ability to provide core library services and programs; and
- increase the Library's reliance on our already overworked first responders, reducing their ability to respond to critical incidents elsewhere.
Public libraries are already serving people experiencing crisis, instability, isolation, mental health challenges, housing insecurity, and difficulty navigating services. The question is not whether those patrons exist in the library... the question is whether library staff have appropriate support." -Library Board Vice Chair
The reduction to vacant positions and materials is a part of a planned “glide path” to a centralized county-wide library collection model. There is no transition plan for the cuts to Library Social Services. The Library Social Services Coordinator...
- makes more than 125 resource referrals each month;
- provides preventive services that save taxpayer dollars by keeping community members from entering the formal, costly system;
- manages the donation-funded Community Basic Needs Library; and
- extensively supports other Library staff in navigating complex situations through training and trauma-informed care.
I cannot in good conscience support a budget that will have an essentially $500,000 surplus and not save the [Library] Social Services position... we've had significant outpouring from the public to consider saving this position, and we're not going to do it? That bothers me." -Councilor Robbins, May 18
How it will be delivered
The petition will be presented to City Council at their June 9 Council Meeting: https://www.tigard-or.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/12072/372