Cherrydale Branch Library

A RESOLUTION BY THE
ARLINGTON COUNTY COUNCIL OF PTAs

Whereas,

• The Arlington County Manager has proposed a Fiscal Year 2010 budget that would force the Arlington Public Libraries to reduce the operating hours of several neighborhood libraries, completely closing certain branches on selected weekdays,
• The Arlington Public Schools and the Arlington Public Libraries have traditionally closely coordinated their services to Arlington students, with the neighborhood libraries serving as safe after-school education havens for Arlington youth,
• Arlington students, including many from low-income households, depend upon after-school visits to their local public libraries to complete schools assignments and study,
• The shortened operating hours would have a significant negative impact upon Arlington children, denying them critical after-school access to the Internet and print resources they depend upon, while providing only minor cost savings to Arlington taxpayers,
• The County Council of PTAs, as a umbrella organization for affiliated PTAs in Arlington Public Schools, advocates on behalf of Arlington schoolchildren and their families,
• The County Council of PTAs is empowered to take positions on local non-partisan issues that impact Arlington schoolchildren,

Therefore, be it resolved,

The County Council of PTAs strongly opposes any reduction in the operating schedules of Arlington libraries as being harmful to the needs of Arlington children, and urges the County Manager to provide the Arlington Public Libraries the funding needed to maintain their current operating schedule.