One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
New City Librarian, New Call to Fight Illiteracy
Photo by jontintinjordan via Flickr
Martin J. Gomez was confirmed today as the new City Librarian, charging him with the duty to oversee a $129 million budget, 6 million books and 1,100 employees throughout the 71 branches. The UCLA grad started his 30-year career as branch librarian in San Diego, moving on to head up Oakland's system, then to work in Brooklyn and most recently San Mateo. Taking advantage of the moment, Councilmember Richard Alarcon introduced a motion to fight illiteracy rates in the city. “We have one of the largest, and growing, illiterate populations in the nation in Los Angeles, and we must take proactive steps to strategically reduce this devastating trend,” said Alarcón in a statement citing that 3.8 million people in the metropolitan area cannot read. “My motion is the first step in re-thinking the role of the library system, so the Department can further expand its role in helping people of all ages receive a crucial tool for success - the ability to read.”
The motion calls for a report on current literacy levels, assessment of current literacy programs done through the City and in conjunction with private and non-profit partners, the inclusion of the goal of reducing literacy as part of the mission statement and also the formation of a Literacy Advisory Committee. The motion also calls for a possibly changing the name of the department from the Los Angeles Public Library to the City of Los Angeles Department of Literacy and Public Library.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
