"Save the Library, save Troy"

Late last month, I posted the following in Save the libraries, save civilization:

Across metro Detroit, communities bracing for library closings
...

Troy's library was originally scheduled to close Sunday. But on April 18, the City Council postponed the closing until May 16, hoping to find a way to fund the library.

Troy Mayor Louise Schilling said she would seek a dedicated millage for the library, releasing its dependence on the city's general operating budget.

Schilling said she hopes a library millage is on the November ballot.

I do, too, Madame Mayor, and I know people who would campaign for it, too. I hope you get together with them.

Looks like I got my wish, which also happened to be the wish of those who will campaign for the library millage. From YummyNatto on YouTube comes the following pair of videos.

First the sales pitch about why Troy's library is worth saving, which was posted one day in advance of a City Council meeting where the Mayor put forth the question of a millage to support the library.

Residents of Troy, Michigan explain why they love and need their library. Falling revenues in Troy have put our library on the chopping block.

Next, the demonstration the supporters of the millage put on before the meeting. Listen to their chant as they marched from the library to City Hall.


Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Maybe because it's because I posted a link to Save the libraries, save civilization post on Troy Residents Unified for a Strong Troy (TRUST)'s Facebook page a few days ago. Or maybe great minds think alike and they were going to use that chant all along. Either way, the lobbying and demonstration seemed to work, as the following story from The Oakland Press indicates.

Troy City Council asks for August library ballot question
By BONNIE CAPRARA
Special to The Oakland Press

Troy voters will likely get a chance to keep the doors of the Troy Public Library open in an Aug. 2 special election.

The Troy City Council voted 5-2 at its regular meeting Monday night to direct the city attorney to draft ballot language asking for 0.70 mills in dedicated millage over the next five years to fund the city-operated library.

That's good news for the demonstrators, who managed to get two paragraphs in the story.

[A]bout 60 children and adults marched carrying homemade signs and chanting, “Save the library, save Troy,” from the library to the front of the Troy City Hall where they held a rally before the council’s meetings.

“After the last council meeting, I saw there was a lot of momentum we didn’t want to lose,” said Padma Kappa of Troy. “On Good Friday morning, we planned what we could do. We wanted to do it in a way that was respectful and in a way that people were well-informed of what the facts are.”

The demonstrators work isn't done yet, though, as the City Council has to vote to approve the ballot measure proper.

If the council formally adopts the ballot language at its next meeting on Monday, the council will have to vote on a measure to keep the library open at least until the special election. The library was originally scheduled to be closed after April 30. The council called off the closure last month until it had an opportunity to discuss ways to keep it open.

Here's to the City Council approving the measure and putting it on the ballot in August. That's a nice "maybe."