Next week, the San Diego City Council considers Mayor Gloria's FY23 proposed budget. You have two opportunities to join the LibrariesTransformSD coalition's call for important additional library investments.The proposed budget recommends increases for library materials, security, window washing, replacing outdated public computers, and the city match of private library donations. LibrariesTransformSD thanks the mayor and council for halting the city's historic divesting of funds from its library system.

While this budget is a step in the right direction, the library system remains underfunded compared to other systems in California and nationwide. Please join us to request additional library spending to:

• Convert employees in the popular Do Your Homework @ the Library program to positions with benefits.

• Increase spending to bring library materials and resource budgets up to national standards.

• Address long-recognized deferred maintenance and branch infrastructure needs.

• Ensure all branches have access to 21st-century technology.

Take Action! How you can help:

Participate in the May 4 and May 5 budget hearings

You can tell the Council about the importance of additional library investments in public testimony. You can present your testimony in person, via Zoom, or by phone. Visit here for more information on participating and here for a sample script you can use in testimony.

• 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 4 Budget Review Committee hearing on the city budget

• 9 a.m., Thursday, May 5 Budget Review Committee hearing on the Library Department budget

Send Postcards to the Mayor and Council

Email or Call your representatives

Thank you for your continued advocacy and library support.

Sincerely,

Patrick Stewart

CEO, San Diego Public Library Foundation

Joan Reese

President, Friends of the San Diego Public Library

Wendy Urushima-Conn

Chair, Board of Library Commissioners