By Ben Joravsky
This isn’t the first time central library officials have found themselves at odds with locals over consolidation–a similar dispute erupted in Lakeview over the Southport branch. The debate goes back to 1994, when library commissioner Mary Dempsey asked her staff for a “strategic plan” that “examines the library’s strengths and weaknesses.” A year later the staff issued a report that said one weakness was “too many libraries.”
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“The Library’s limited budget is diluted in its attempt to maintain a major central library along with the highest number of branches [79] in the United States,” said the report to Dempsey. “The Library needs to address this issue by continuing to consolidate facilities and by enhancing access to information via electronic technologies.”
As word of the plans spread, opposition grew. “We’d already been through this once before [in the early 90s] when they wanted to close the West Town branch,” says Stahl. “It was located in an old dilapidated building on Milwaukee [near Division]. I remember going to meetings where dozens of people were pleading for the library.”
“You know, things haven’t changed that much since I was growing up around here [in the 60s]. My dad came from Greece and worked as a barber. My mom was a clerical worker who worked the night shift. I was the kind of kid who loved to read books. I was always in the library. We didn’t have a car. I walked to the library. I wasn’t alone. There were many working-class kids like me.”
Whenever critics call to ask about the West Town branches, library officials talk about all the new branches being built. Since 1989, they point out, branches have been (or have been scheduled to be) built or renovated in over 50 communities, from Pullman on the far south side to Rogers Park way up north. In short, they say that Dempsey and Mayor Daley are beyond criticism on this issue.
To make sure that the issue is not overlooked, someone from West Town attends every meeting of the library board’s facilities subcommittee. “They meet every month at different libraries around town,” says Stahl. “Last month’s meeting was at the Chicago Bee branch at 3647 S. State. I was there. I think they were surprised to see me because it’s right near the Robert Taylor Homes. Mary Dempsey was very polite. She said, ‘You won’t drop off our radar screen if you miss a meeting.’ But with all due respect, we’re not taking any chances. This is too important for them to think we’ve just gone away.”
