Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

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.

News

Studying in Resistance: Students at CSULA Set Up Guerilla Library for Finals Week

csula-library.jpg
Photo by U2Baja via Twitpic

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.

It's not just the Los Angeles Public LIbraries that are facing budget cuts, forcing reduced hours, but libraries across the region. At California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), students were put into a bind when officials shortened hours from midnight to 8 p.m. That's bad news, but what makes it worse is that it was finals week. So a group called The Colektiva on June 1st decided to take it upon themselves to set up their own, called The People's Library that came complete with copier, printer and free coffee. Organizers say school officials initially shut off electricity and threatened arrests, but agreements were come to after safety concerns were addressed, according to the LA Times.

Last night was the end of the library, as finals concluded, but it's just another form or protest that we've seen over the past year regarding state funding of the CSU and UC systems.

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.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today