Closing the book

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Philadelphia has a rich library history and it all began in 1731 with Benjamin Franklin establishing the nation’s first circulating one at Sixth and Chestnut streets. Named Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company of Philadelphia, the institution is now at 1314 Locust St.

Fostering the foundation created by one of the Founding Fathers, steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie began libraries in small towns and big cities across America and British Isles. In Philadelphia, the Scottish immigrant, millionaire and philanthropist established 25 branches of which only 18 remain. Locally, Thomas Donatucci Sr. branch, 1935 Shunk St., is the sole Carnegie institution, according to Steven Duckworth, administrative assistant of Friends of the Philadelphia Free Library.

But the city is about to turn the page on its legacy with the closing of 11 out of 54 branches. The Fumo Family branch, 2437 S. Broad St., and Queen Memorial, 1201 S. 23rd St., are on a hit list under Mayor Michael Nutter’s litany of budget cuts announced Nov. 6. The closures, the mayor said at the time, are necessary to combat the budget crisis to the tune of $108 million for the coming fiscal year.

Pools and skating rinks, which fall under the Department of Recreation, also are on the chopping block with 68 of the 81 watering spots and three of five ice rinks slated to be shuttered citywide. However, there is a silver lining because, unlike the libraries, the pool closures are not permanent, Department of Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson said.

"This is not something that was done to be permanent. The whole goal of this is for us to be fiscally sound. Like every other city in the United States, there is really a financial crisis. We need to get a hold of our finances so we can serve the city. It was never the mayor’s intent or my intent to close the pools permanently," Slawson, a 20-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department and former head of the Police Athletic League, told the Review.

The area’s only ice rink, Rizzo Rink at 1101 S. Front St., will not be affected, but nearly 10 pools will be, Slawson said. West of Broad they are: Marian Anderson, 17th and Fitzwater; Barry, 18th and Bigler; Chew, 19th and Washington; Stinger Square, 32nd and Dickinson; O’Connor, 23rd and South; and Vare, 26th and Morris. East of Broad the affected are: Ford, Seventh and Snyder; Hawthorne, 13th and Christian; and Sacks, Fourth and Washington.

Twelve pools citywide — two in South Philly — are expected to reopen this summer and the goal is to resurrect more once the financial crisis has passed — "that could be 18 months or two years," the commissioner noted. Slawson said the 12 have not yet been determined.

Despite the bad news, not one rec center has shut down nor any programs — particularly after-school ones — axed, Slawson said.

"This was a very, very difficult decision for the city to make, but in an effort for us to get in front of what we need to do, decisions had to be made. And so we made decisions based on ensuring that we continue to have programs throughout the city in every one of our facilities. We did not cut one program — every athletic, every cultural program that was in place prior to the financial crisis is still intact," Slawson added.

Though nobody is rallying to save the pools, library demonstrations took place over the weekend throughout the city. The Queen Memorial rally took place 10:30 a.m. Saturday, while the Fumo demonstration 5:30 p.m. Monday attracted HOW MANY.

For Marilyn Barr, president of The Friends of the Fumo Family Branch, the closing is particularly unsettling. The Mount Airy resident was active in the early planning and development of the Ritner Children’s Library, which morphed into its current incarnation. Her time as a librarian with the system was 37 years, 20 of which was at Ritner Children’s and Fumo before retiring in 2005. For her and many, Nutter’s plan is a case of been there/done that.

"I’m very upset because I have been there since the beginning. We’ve been through this before [with Mayor John Street in ’04]," Barr said, adding she remembers then-City Councilman Nutter being an advocate for libraries with his photo even appearing on the cover of Library Journal for his passionate rallying. "I know that they have to do what they have to do, but it’s very harsh to take away from children and adults especially during hard times like this."

Betty Beaufort agrees the timing couldn’t be worse. With the ailing economy and less disposable income for most families, now more than ever free services by way of books, magazines, journals and DVDs are needed.

"It is terrible to be closing a library at this time," the president of Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze said. "The biggest problem I have with the library closing is [Queen Memorial] is the only library in our community.

"If this library closes our kids and adults would have to go to Broad and Morris or 19th and Shunk," she said referring to the South Philadelphia and Donatucci branches, respectively.

Beaufort doesn’t understand why her facility is being targeted since every age bracket visits it every day.

"It’s something the kids need in the neighborhood; it’s being used," she said.

Among the many offerings for children and young adults at the libraries, including Queen and Fumo, is a summer reading program and after-school homework aid in the form of LEAP, or Learning Excitement and Play.

"There are so many things that go on that help that community," Barr said of institutions.

Next week, a look at how the Mummers’ Parade will be impacted.

Contact Staff Writer Lorraine Gennaro at lgennaro@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.