East Baton Rouge Library Alliance

East Baton Rouge Library Alliance The #1 library in Louisiana needs our help. We're a grassroots effort fighting back - not affiliated with EBRPL/POPL!

⚠️ The mayor has withdrawn his plan, and a new plan - with the library's stamp of approval - is going forward. We no lon...
03/11/2025

⚠️ The mayor has withdrawn his plan, and a new plan - with the library's stamp of approval - is going forward. We no longer need to mobilize for the March 12th council meeting.

You used your voice. You saved our library!

📖 A quick word from the team on the future of our efforts.In just a few days, we did so much. It’s all thanks to you.We ...
03/06/2025

📖 A quick word from the team on the future of our efforts.

In just a few days, we did so much. It’s all thanks to you.

We met so many people organizing around our library, and we want to make sure our efforts go in the same direction.

We have made the decision to sunset this group in favor of joining the many other advocates working to protect our library.

Before we go, your last assignment:

Contact your Metro Council member and urge them to vote no
on this illegal rededication.

Show up on March 12th at the meeting.

Support Patrons of the Public Library (POPL), the official group that represents EBRPL.

We hope you’ve seen that the East Baton Rouge Parish we want
is possible.

All it takes is you.

Organize. Work hard. Cause some good trouble.

We’ll keep fighting. Will you?

Use your voice. Save our library.

📣 This is it. Mark your calendars for March 12th to show up and demand the Metro Council stop this illegal rededication....
03/05/2025

📣 This is it. Mark your calendars for March 12th to show up and demand the Metro Council stop this illegal rededication.

On Wednesday, March 12th, the East Baton Rouge Metro Council will vote on whether to put the mayor’s proposed rededication of dedicated library funds on the ballot this fall.

Here's how to help.

The meeting will be here at 4 pm that day:

222 Saint Louis Street
Room 364
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Show up and wear blue to support EBRPL.

Want to speak? 🔊

You can sign up at the monitors in the lobby beginning at 3pm.

Fill out your information, select the item, register that you are in opposition to it, and select that you would like to speak.

Don’t want to speak but still want to show support? 👏

Same process!

When registering on the monitors, select that you are in opposition to the item, and then select that you would not like to speak on it.

We must stop this illegal rededication.

Make a plan to show up.

Use your voice. Save our library.

Happy Mardi Gras!Did you know EBRPL has a Mardi Gras history page?One of the many benefits of a well-funded library is i...
03/04/2025

Happy Mardi Gras!

Did you know EBRPL has a Mardi Gras history page?

One of the many benefits of a well-funded library is its preservation of cultural resources and information.

If you’re at work or celebrating from home, check out our library’s Mardi Gras history resources: bit.ly/ebrplmg

Celebrate today, but don’t forget to reach out to your Metro Council member this week to urge them to oppose the illegal rededication of library funds.

Use your voice. Save our library. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

👏 In the truest spirit of accountability and transparency, EBRPL will be hosting a total of *seventeen hours' worth* of ...
03/01/2025

👏 In the truest spirit of accountability and transparency, EBRPL will be hosting a total of *seventeen hours' worth* of informational meetings regarding the millage and rededication proposal. We highly encourage you to attend at least one of these and hear more from the library firsthand!

Here are the upcoming meetings:

3/5/25, 5-8pm: Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70806

3/6/25, 5-8pm: Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch, 11300 Greenwell Springs Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70814

3/8/25, 3-6pm (Saturday meeting!): Zachary Branch,1900 Church St Zachary, LA 70791

3/9/25, 3-6pm (Sunday meeting!): Baker Branch, 3501 Groom Rd
Baker, LA 70714

3/10/25, 5-7pm: Jones Creek Branch, 6222 Jones Creek Rd Baton Rouge, LA 70817

3/11/25, 4-7pm: Delmont Gardens Branch, 3351 Lorraine St
Baton Rouge, LA 70805

As always, there's still time to reach out to the Metro Council and urge them to vote NO on this illegal rededication: bit.ly/saveebrpl

Use your voice. Save our library.

🤑 The plan seems to change by the hour, but an original version of the plan included... a bribe.On Wednesday, February 1...
02/28/2025

🤑 The plan seems to change by the hour, but an original version of the plan included... a bribe.

On Wednesday, February 19th, the library board held a meeting. A Metro Council member, Darryl Hurst, sits on that same board. He told the truth of what the mayor’s office offered the council.

If rededication passes, the mayor’s office originally planned to take $12 million from library funds and give each council district $1 million to use for any purpose.

The mayor’s office has changed their plan multiple times since then, and who knows if this is even still being offered to the council.

Not only is rededicating a dedicated fund illegal, but planning to then use the money as a bribe is unconscionable.

Councilman Hurst is now being retaliated against for speaking out in favor of the library. Our parish is lucky that he is continuing to fight for transparency throughout this process.

If you haven't used your voice, there's no time like the present! Reach out to the Metro Council today and urge them to vote NO on this illegal rededication: bit.ly/saveebrpl

👀 We got a spicy tip. You'll be shocked... Make sure you tell your council member about this:It turns out the library is...
02/27/2025

👀 We got a spicy tip. You'll be shocked... Make sure you tell your council member about this:

It turns out the library is even MORE responsible with our money than you might think!

A retired analyst who worked with our parish library budget years ago reached out to us and was concerned about the comparisons being made to other cities' library systems. They wanted to set the record straight:

“Comparing our library system to the one in Dallas leaves out one glaring detail... their system must incur debt to build and maintain facilities.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library does not incur debt... they save.”

It’s time our mayor and council faced the facts. Our library is the best steward of public funds in the state of Louisiana.

Investing in our library is the best fiscal decision we can make in EBR!

Reach out and tell your council member this: bit.ly/saveebrpl

It's a day ending in Y, meaning it's time to support Patrons of the Public Library!Important to note that we are not aff...
02/27/2025

It's a day ending in Y, meaning it's time to support Patrons of the Public Library!

Important to note that we are not affiliated with EBRPL or POPL; we’re just a grassroots group lifting up information.

Patrons, however, is the OFFICIAL organization that supports the library. They could really use your help!

Start by following them.

Website: https://poplebrpl.org

Instagram: instagram.com/poplebrpl

Facebook: Patrons of the Public Library

You can even become an annual member for just $5, a supporting member for $10, or a lifetime one for $50!

Head to their website or socials and get involved.

Your library needs you.

The mayor's office finally outlined a plan. They lied.On February 25th, the mayor’s office showed slides about a budget ...
02/27/2025

The mayor's office finally outlined a plan. They lied.

On February 25th, the mayor’s office showed slides about a budget at Cafe Americain. The numbers are fabricated and don’t add up to the total.

When comparing that against the actual library budget, things get scary.

This new plan has the library operating off of a $28.6 million budget in 2026. It then puts the library on a $38 million budget in 2027 and beyond.

And what does that mean?

In 2026, facing a more than 50% budget cut, the library would have to cut staff and hours to be able to make ends meet. They would also have to reduce maintenance.

The beautiful libraries you paid for with your taxes would fall into complete disrepair. This cascades into 2027, causing more layoffs, further cutting back hours, and ruining our library system as we know it.

The mayor’s office continues to compare EBRPL’s budget to other cities, and it’s intentionally misleading. Our library system has different hours and services than in other cities.

And here’s the big difference: our library system doesn’t take on debt.

It all comes from the millage — your tax dollars.

They have to save the money, resulting in a “fund balance” —
not a surplus.

Reach out to the council and urge them to reject this illegal rededication: bit.ly/saveebrpl

Today, the mayor gave an update about his proposal to rededicate library funding. It's worse than before.Instead of redi...
02/26/2025

Today, the mayor gave an update about his proposal to rededicate library funding. It's worse than before.

Instead of redirecting funds to police as originally proposed, it would be spread over nearly half a dozen departments - breaking a promise made to those in law enforcement who thought they would be getting a pay raise.

Residents throughout EBR agree: something needs to change, and we need true investment in public safety.

But we don't get there by breaking promises.

Tell your council member to oppose this illegal rededication. bit.ly/saveebrpl

Use your voice. Save the library.

📢 Folks, several members of the Metro Council are holding public meetings to hear from YOU this week about the rededicat...
02/25/2025

📢 Folks, several members of the Metro Council are holding public meetings to hear from YOU this week about the rededication. If you are able to, attend and make a plan to speak up. These are not meetings where there will be a vote -- that will be on March 12th. But what we say between now and then matters, a lot.

Share with 5 friends in EBR and let's get the community involved!

Here's the schedule:

Monday 2/24 @ 6pm: Councilors Darryl Hurst and Anthony Kenney; Jewel J. Newman Community Center, 2013 Central Road

Tuesday 2/25 @ 5:30-7:30pm: Councilors Rowdy Gaudet and Dwight Hudson; Acacia Church, 10051 Siegen Lane

Thursday 2/27 @ 6-8pm: Councilor Aaron Moak; Central Branch Library, 11260 Joor Road

Not sure what to say? Here a few ideas:

There is no proof saying this rededication is legal.
The library is being punished for being fiscally responsible.
They are pitting the library and the police against each other, dividing us.

Use your voice. Save our library.

In barely 48 hours, you have already used your voices! 👏 We set a goal of trying to send 100 emails to our council by Ma...
02/23/2025

In barely 48 hours, you have already used your voices! 👏 We set a goal of trying to send 100 emails to our council by March 12th... well, as of this post, 131 have been sent.

You did that! And YOUR voice is the only thing that can save our library, meaning we've still got work to do.

Let's get to 200.

Haven't reached out yet? Use our easy, pre-filled form here: bit.ly/saveebrpl

Already reached out but still want to help? Share this post and page with 5 friends in EBR.

You've already shown that the library is the greatest source of unity in our community. Let's make sure the Metro Council hears us loud and clear.

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Baton Rouge, LA

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