September 29

Wallingford library and SHARE funding discussed at budget hearing

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A plan to remove the on-site librarian from the Wallingford library and funding for the Seattle Housing and Resource Effort (SHARE) were just some of the topics of discussion at Wednesday’s public hearing on the city budget in Northgate. 

“The library changes and improves lives,” said Tony Provine of Friends of the Seattle Public Library.

A crowd lines up to speak at Wednesday night’s budget hearing in Northgate

Under the mayor’s plan, the Wallingford library and 7 other smaller libraries will be converted to “circulating libraries.”  The Wallingford library will continue to be open 35 hours per week and offer collections, holds-pickup, and computer access.   But access to specialized services will be provided online or by telephone access to staff at the Central Library. Programming will be primarily focused on youth and provided by librarians from other locations.  At all library branches, a one week systemwide closure (the week before Labor Day) will continue in 2011.

“We ask you to consider restoring some critical library service hours,” Provine told the City Council.

Supporters of SHARE also turned out to ask the Council to continue funding its programs to house the homeless.  The mayor’s proposed budget reduces Human Services as a whole by 5 percent.  SHARE currently gets about $300,000 in installments from the city each year but recently asked for more money in order to avoid closing some of its shelters.  Donations helped avoid any closures.  SHARE recently opened a homeless shelter inside the Gift of Grace Lutheran Church in Wallingford.  While SHARE supporters were on hand at Wednesday’s public hearing, one of the ideas proposed on the City Council’s online budget suggestion page calls for stopping all funding to SHARE.


Supporters of SHARE at Wednesday’s public hearing

One other budget issue impacting Wallingford involves the Wallingford Playfield wading pool which will once again only be open three days a week during the summer months.

To see more on the mayor’s proposed budget, click here.  The next public hearing on the budget takes place Wednesday, October 13 at South Seattle Community College at 5:30pm.

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