The city of Troy, Michigan was facing a budget shortfall, and was considering closing the Troy Public Library for lack of funds. Even though the necessary revenues could be raised through a miniscule tax increase, powerful anti-tax groups in the area were organized against it. A vote was scheduled amongst the city's residents, to shut the library or accept the tax increase, and Leo Burnett Detroit decided to support the library by creating a reverse psychology campaign. Yard signs began appearing that read: "Vote to Close Troy Library on August 2nd - Book Burning Party on August 5th." No one wants to be a part of a town that burns books, and the outraged citizens of Troy pushed back against the "idiotic book burners" and ultimately supported the tax increase, thus ensuring the library's survival.
I thought this was a wonderful example of how Americans with ingenuity, and a little reverse psychology, can defeat a powerful group driven by ignorance and a focus on a single issue which often clouds their judgement.
Your feel good story of the day.
Gosh, that did make me feel good.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is a sliver of hope and then some.
Libraries are essential to communities if you want a community to thrive. There is a profound reason Andrew Carnegie chose to fund public libraries to do penance for his greed way back when - he knew they would make a huge positive difference in the lives of those less fortunate than him. Knowledge is the key to advancement, to hope.
Reading is magic, too, in my opinion. It allows us to live more than one life as we read biographies and fiction. It gives us insight into new skills and new perspectives. It gives us comfort and makes us step outside those comfort zones to grow into more than we were.
Libraries and librarians rule! (and, no, I am not a librarian - they are just a category of people I respect)
I live in Stanislaus County in Central Calif. A number of years ago we passed a 1/8% sales tax to help fund the library system. All libraries were in danger of cutting hours and the possibility of some being closed. In June it was time to renew the tax and people voted to pass it again - over 80% of voters were for it. Were it not for this very small tax, our access would be limited or nonexistent.
DeleteWe have some wonderful examples in nearby communities of the Carnegie buildings - some are no longer libraries, but beautiful nevertheless.
Pat Padrnos
We used to live near Troy, MI. This is a very upscale Detroit suburb that includes the area's fanciest shopping mall and mile upon mile of large newish homes. The anti-tax movement has been in place there for quite a few years, even before the Tea Party began. I'm very glad that the library is still operating there. Troy always had an excellent library system.
ReplyDeleteIn nearby Bloomfield Hills, however, the oh-so-rich residents decided years ago not to pay any extra taxes to continue to participate in the West Bloomfield library. Bloomfield Hills had never had its own public library. The attitude was: "if we want a book we can buy it." Similarly they opted out of the public transit (bus) system that brought their daily house workers from the city to their posh suburb, thus complicating the lives of the working poor, whom they also look down upon. The bus tax was a minuscule increase - but it was the principle that mattered. Rich people do not want to pay taxes. It's a waste of money that they could otherwise spend on themselves.
We are glad to be out of that area. So far, unless the City Commission gets its way, we live in a more civilized part of the state where people are willing to pay taxes for area public transit and for good police and fire protection. The conservatives on the Commission are anxious to undo our city fire protection system - mainly because they are unionized. So far residents have resisted.
Beaglemom
Beaglemom,
DeleteWe lived in Clarkston for three years at the height of the Hunmer greed. I had worked in my library here in Midkand and got hired at the local township library. I have never seen a more entitled bunch of people in my life as in Oakland County. No one wanted to pay late fees, no one wanted to be responsible if they damaged a book, and they certainly expected is to bend the residency rules to suit them. I was glad to return north , but now the GOP is running the school board, and have shut half our elementarie, and our teachers worked for 2 years without a contract. Add that to Snyder's low opinion of public workers, and it's been a disastrous few years here. And we are a wealthy town, but heaven forbid we fund schools. No people need their giant boats and their lake cabins and their kids in the Ivy League. Someone else can worry about the middle class.
That said, I love what the guy did in Troy. Trying to think of a good slogan for the war on women on Lansing: Vote for Life August 2: All females get pregnancy tests August 4.
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThe Cox trial verdicts are in and Sarah is still standing.
ReplyDeleteOh that's right, only you and your secret "sources" know the truth the FBI and DOJ couldn't find.
Only an asshole would be gleeful that Sarah Palin hasn't yet received her comeuppance. Only an idiot believes the government always acts on information.
DeleteThe library I grew up in was closed in 2005 due to budget slashing. The community rallied and found a way to open it by way of donated books and a grant from the Wendt Foundation. Two months ago it ran out of funds and was going to close its doors. It could no longer afford a staff and the money for supplies.
ReplyDeleteI publish a local newspaper and decided I could just as easily do my work from the library as I could from any other office, so - the librarian and I offered to keep the library open, without pay. To cover the necessary costs of running it, I have been reaching out to local businesses to donate items and gift cards for raffles. I've also been contacting authors, artists and celebs who have a Buffalo NY connection and am asking them to autograph and donate copies of their favorite childhood books, one for the library shelves and one for auction. The response has been remarkable. Last week I heard from the late Tim Russert's wife who was happy to donate copies of his book as well as some of hers.
I liken the feel of a library to that of a church. Not exactly the same, but there's something similar. I see every type of person coming through these doors, each of them connected by a love of reading and learning. Different in so many other ways and yet here, it doesn't matter.
Feel free to check out my sweet little library, and if you're ever in South Buffalo, stop in and buy a raffle ticket! www.cazresourcecenter.com
I grew in central NYS (near Binghamton) and I would love to send you my picture book. What a wonderful thing you are doing for your community!
DeleteGood for you. Many local public libraries were funded by the Carnegie Foundation - back when gazillionnaire (for the time) Andrew Carnegie believed that books mattered and that ordinary people should have access to them.
DeleteBeaglemom
Anon @5:57, I would love to receive your book! You can use the mailing info at the site or drop me an email (info also on the site listed above). I love my library !
DeleteAnd Hi to you Beaglemom - it's been awhile!
So you're pleased that Todd and Sarah hung out with these "great Americans?" It sickens me that she struts around questioning the President's professors while she approves of the AIP and their goals and is never held to account. Who is it again that the media never vetted properly?
ReplyDeletePlease!!!! Todd was never a member of the AIP.....he just ticked the wrong box SEVEN times. And he never palled around with prostitutes in Anchorage....though Wasilla might be different. And stop telling those lies about Troopergate. Sarah told us she and Todd were found innocent of any wrong doing! Don't let the official report fool you.
ReplyDeleteThe Palins are good people .... just ask them.
Good for the citizens of Troy!
ReplyDeleteThe ignorant, book-burning, illiterate DUMB tea-baggers are just plain STOOPID. They barely remember how to spell their names...let alone read one of dem high falootin' books.
Fantastic story! Growing up we weren't exactly rich, and I had a love of reading at a very young age. I loved our weekly trips (by bus no less) to the public library. If I did not have this outlet, who knows what I would have choosen to do instead.
ReplyDeleteThe thought of public libraries closing is just, well, sacrilege.
But hands off the teabaggers' Medicare and Social Security!!! Stupid fuckers!
ReplyDeleteGreat story to start the day! I'm just going to skip over that next one because of the detrimental effects I know it will have on my mood and thought processes.
ReplyDeleteThat is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you have to know your 'baggers and if the public will buy it.
Thank you Leo Burnett!
ReplyDeleteGratitude isn't enough to convey how much Mr Burnett's brilliant move helped save a library. To me, and many like me, a library is much more than a building with books.
ReplyDeleteFor many immigrants and poor, the free library helps open doors they might not be able to afford otherwise. I just wish the baggers were more self aware of their ancestor's struggles and the value public schools and libraries give to society.