The Fight for Salinas Library Goes On
Supporters—from Bill Murray to a local boxer—raise funds to keep the system open
By Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 4/1/2005
The plight of the Salinas Public Library in California has attracted a curious mix of supporters who have helped raise $176,000 of the $500,000 needed to keep the under-funded system from closing.
The amount raised so far includes $12,500 from actor Bill Murray, who pledged his winnings from the 3M Celebrity Challenge, a charity golfing event in Pebble Beach. Murray, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2004 for his role in Lost in Translation, decided on the donation after reading about the library's troubles in a local newspaper, says Cathy Scherzer, a tournament spokesperson.
Hundreds of other donations have poured in to Rally Salinas, the city's independent fund-raising effort, to help raise the necessary half million dollars to keep the system's three branches open two days a week through December 2005. An anonymous donor sent $25,000, and contributions have come from as far away as New York City and Hawaii, as the planned closure of libraries in this quiet farm community, the birthplace of John Steinbeck, has made national headlines.
Locally, eateries such as Chapala Restaurant and several Carl's Jr. franchises have donated portions of their sales to the library, while teenagers have raised funds by selling yellow "Save Salinas" bracelets, similar to Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" rubber bracelets, which are being sold to raise cancer awareness, says Patricia Vargas, a librarian at Salinas High School, Steinbeck's alma mater.
"For my part, I'm trying to meet the needs of students by building the collection," says Vargas. But if the Salinas Library closes, she says they'll lose an invaluable resource for class assignments and Internet access for the many kids who lack home computers. The library also provides a safe haven for teens in a community plagued by gang violence. When her school library closes at 4 p.m., "there will be a void," Vargas adds.
Meanwhile, super middleweight boxer Ryan "Dangerous" Davis has promised a percentage of his next fight purse to the library cause. Davis, who recently relocated to Salinas, learned about the library's woe's in his hometown of Granite City, IL. "Ryan would like to give back to the community in appreciation for showing their support to him," says Melissa Garcia, who represents Garcia Boxing, which trains Davis.
The city council voted March 2 to keep its three branches open 36 hours per week through mid-June and eight to 10 hours per week from July to December, if Mayor Anna Caballero's goal to raise $500,000 is reached before June 30. But the latest move doesn't stop plans to lay off 33 library workers. The city had voted earlier to shut down the branches this spring due to an $8 million budget deficit.
