New IMN Podcast and Call to Action

The new IMN Podcast is up - download it or listen at the site or on WFYI HD2 Thursdays at 4pm.

Speaking of outlets that benefit the public (did you make your NPR pledge yet?), Fountain Square is in danger of losing its branch of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. Budget cuts or something. Now, since we probably won't be opening a branch in Lucas Oil Stadium or Conseco Fieldhouse, that leaves the Central Library as the closest outlet for this neighborhood. The only problem is that the library doesn't just represent an outlet for books and knowledge for the folks here (which, if you think about it, isn't a bad thing to be for a neighborhood). It also provides a central location for meetings, training, and education that goes far beyond just checking out a book (which, again, is a pretty great service).

Maybe it's just that I practically grew up in a library, I dunno. Mom is a librarian, and Dad used to drive to Indianapolis just to go to the library. Yep - he'd pay for the out-of-county library card and everything. A good library is worth the resources you put into it, and Indianapolis has a pretty spectacular system. I've gotten books, recordings, sheet music, and taken in wonderful performances and speeches at our library branches. Keeping it in the neighborhoods means keeping it in the forefront of the public mind, and that means more use. Take it away, and some people simply can't or won't make the trip to the Central library. That's a huge loss all around.

As much as the education of children and the retraining of the unemployed weighs on society right now, you'd think it'd be a no-brainer to keep library branches open. Alas, this city may not see it that way - but there are still options to try and save it. Attend two public meetings, May 10th and 12th at 6:30pm at the Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian St. We've got enough to support the city for a one-time huge sporting event or three - we should be able to find the resources to keep books and information available to the public. They're more than just a stop to pick up tax forms.