Thank you!!!

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped with this effort. So many people leant their time and their voices to this cause. We really appreciate everyone who helped with petition signings, writing letters and speaking before the Council. Now it's time to cross those fingers.

Save Youth Library Team Addresses City Council

The Save the Youth Library Team today addressed the City Council and City Manager on behalf of the Palmdale City Libraries. Children carried signs, and several parents shared cost-cutting and revenue generation strategies with the Council. Nancy Hyland, President of the MOMS Club of Palmdale, presented petitions with more than 1800 signatures thanks to you! The next meeting is Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. It's not too late to let the Council hear from you on why and how the Library must be spared.

Organizing Meeting Scheduled for March 29

To prepare for the Community Meetings on April 4 and April 8, we'll be meeting at Butler's Coffee. Come and arm yourself with important information about the Library and the City budget, so you can effectively make your case for saving the Youth Library. Butler's Coffee is located at 40125 10th Street West, Suite I (across 10th Street from Walmart). We'll be there from 7- 9 p.m.

We've collected more than 1,474 signatures thanks to you!

With your help, we've collected more than 1,474 signatures to date! We've already exceeded our goal of 1,000 signatures by April 4 (the date of the first community meeting).

It's not too late to sign a petition. They can be printed off of this Web site (see important documents at left), passed around to friends and family and returned to us (email saveyouthlib@gmail.com for directions).

A big thank you to today's petitioners at the very windy Walmart: Kelly, Kirsten, Nancy, Jen and the two Sarahs. And thanks to Angelica for dropping off her petitions too.

Good work everyone!

We've collected more than 768 signatures thanks to you!

With your help, we've collected more than 768 signatures to date! We are definitely going to exceed our goal of 1,000 signatures by April 4 (the date of the first community meeting).

A big thank you to today's petitioners at Walmart (some of whom braved some serious wind!): Sheyla, Kelly, Kirsten, CeCe, Nancy, Karen and Wendy. And thanks to Sheyla for our sign and Valerie for our flier. They generated a lot of interest.

It's not too late to help out. We'll be signing petitions outside Walmart next Sunday (March 15). You can sign up for a two hour time slot (9-11, 11-1, 1-3 or 3-5) by emailing us at saveyouthlib@gmail.com. It's a lot of fun to talk to people, and 95% are very receptive (the other 5% are just too busy to stop).

Can't sit at Walmart? Download our petition on the left hand side of this site under "important documents" and have your friends, family and neighbors sign. Take it with you to karate, dance class, school, etc. Together, we can save the library! Thanks for your interest in helping the children of the Antelope Valley!

Nancy to Appear on Channel 3's Local Edition at 6 p.m. Tonight

Palmdale MOMS Club's Nancy Hyland will appear on "The Local Edition" at 6 p.m. tonight to discuss the Youth Library issue. The Local Edition airs on Channel 3 (Time Warner Cable).

Measure A May Raise $1 million

Measure A will appear on the Palmdale special election ballot on May 17.

If passed, Measure A will raise the temporary occupancy tax to the same level that is currently being charged by other California cities. What this means is that people visiting our area will pay a higher hotel tax than they do now. This will raise an estimated $1 million for city services adn may help save the Youth Library.

American Library Association Resources

The American Library Association has developed an excellent Web site resource to better articulate how indispensable public and school libraries are in the lives of children and teens. This is wonderful information to help us fight the Save the Youth Library campaign. Here's the link: Add It Up 

Channel 3 Interview with MOMS Club's Nancy Hyland re: The Library

Palmdale MOMS Club President Nancy Hyland will be featured on the Channel 3 news tonight (Time Warner Cable) discussing the Palmdale Youth Library issue. Air times are 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 p.m.

Flier and Petitions Now Available

The Save the Palmdale Youth Library Team now has fliers and petitions available. Would you like to hand out fliers and collect signatures at your child's next dance class, cub scout meeting or soccer game? Email us at saveyouthlib@gmail.com, and we'll send you the flier and petition. Thanks for helping us get the word out and save this community treasure.

Update: The petition is also now available for viewing and printing from your computer via the link on the left hand side under the Important Documents Header.

Dates for Petition Signings Set

The Save the Palmdale Youth Library team will be collecting signatures outside the Walmart Supercenter in West Palmdale (10th Street West and Avenue O-8) on March 8 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please email us to help out. We need two people  to collect signatures each hour.

Can't collect signatures? Make sure to stop by and sign the petition to make sure the City of Palmdale hears your voice.

City has gone public with possible cuts to Youth Library

In Thursday, Feb. 26's Antelope Valley Press, the City of Palmdale went public with its possible cuts to the Youth Library. 

From page A5, "The city will have three community meetings in April to hear resident and employee comments on which municipal programs should or should not be scaled back or terminated under the city's 2009-2010 budget. Such programs include the city's award-winning Fall Festival, its Youth Library operations and its Playhouse presentations, among others. [City Manager Steve] Williams compared the situation to parents who have been asked which baby they would be willing to give up."

What you can do to help:

1) Write a letter to the Antelope Valley Press and send to letters@avpress.com

2) Send your letter to members of the Palmdale City Council. Find addresses at: http://cityofpalmdale.org/city_hall/city_council.html

3) Send your letter to the Library Board of Trustees. Find addresses at: http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/city_hall/library_board.html

4) Sign our petition on March 8 and 15 at Walmart in West Palmdale (10th Street West and Avenue O-8)

5) Clear your calendar to attend one of the community meetings on April 4, 8 or 18 and speak on the Library's behalf.

Check back soon for updates.