More than 50 people rallied last night in front of the Fumo Family Library in South Philadelphia along Broad Street. The crowd waved signs, chanted ”Heck No We Won’t Go” and solicited honks from passing cars. The Fumo branch is among 11 libraries on the chopping block under Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed budget cuts.

What stuck out about this rally was the number of younger protesters, ranging from small kids to teenagers in high school. Accompanied by their parents, a number of children fluttered around with wings on their backs and carried around signs marked with the phrase “Libraries Give Us Wings.” Youngsters like eight-year old Amanda Albarouki described the Fumo Branch as her “second home.” Albarouki said, “I really like this library and if it closes down, I probably won’t go to another library as much as I love this one.”  

Older students like 13-year old Rebecca Khalil had nice things to say about the library staff, who will either be reassigned or laid off depending on their status. “The people here are so nice and they’re always willing to help you with your homework or anything you need,” said Khalil. In terms of Mayor Nutter’s decision to close 11 libraries, she also questioned his commitment to education. Khalil said, “How are you supposed to keep children off the street when you’re closing down the only place they go for education in the first place?”

As for parents, many expressed concern about where their children will go now after school, and how they will set up new plans. Take Constance Bailey for example. She lives in Germantown, works in Plymouth Meeting, and picks up her nine-year son at the Fumo branch everyday after school. Bailey worries that her son, whose school is just around the corner from the library, will now have to cross busy streets and walk nearly a mile to the next closest library to his school. Bailey also lamented that the nearest library branch to her home is also slated for closure.

Library advocates consider last night’s rally to be one of the best attended so far. A major rally is being planned for Saturday December 6th at the Central Branch. For more information about advocacy efforts surrounding the libraries, visit Friends of the Free Library’s website. If you can, consider attending one of Mayor Nutter’s Town Hall Meetings. The mayor will discuss and take questions regarding all areas of his proposed $108 million budget cuts.