Measure L: Day of Action

UCLA ALA Student Chapter further revealed it's commitment to a year of library activism with the biggest event yet! Chapter members and friends gathered together to get the word out to L.A. voters about Measure L. This ballot measure represents a pivotal moment for Los Angeles libraries. If it passes, libraries will have their funding restored to pre-recession levels, allowing the library to return to six days of service per week (and later seven), increasing the collections budget, and increasing services and programming. If, however, the measure does not pass, L.A, City Council will have no reason to defend libraries from further budget slashes. It has been predicted that should the measure not pass, 64 out of 72 branches would need to close completely. Ouch!

Obviously, a student group comprised of dedicated future librarians is absolutely in favor of Measure L, and we're putting our energies into helping the cause. Students have already been handing out Measure L bookmarks to registered L.A. voters, blogging, writing op-eds, posting fliers at work and home, and leaving quarter sheets at amenable local businesses. Today, however, represented a huge push as the countdown to voting day begins in earnest. Chapter members assembled for updates and action plans. After learning the latest news, small groups split off into stations. There was a table for social networking on laptops, a room reserved for phone banking, fliers for those who wished to hit the pavement, and window chalk for transforming cars into mobile billboards. Best of all, there were sign up sheets to keep the action going until voting on March 8th!

UCLA ALA Student Chapter sponsored the event as a way for busy graduate students balancing work, school, and family to easily give an hour of service to the cause. The goal was to bring activism right to the students. As part of this flexibility, a table will remain in the student commons with all sign up sheets and fliers so that even those members who couldn't make the day of action can still find a way to contribute to this monumental time in LAPL history. To read more about the Student Chapters big day, see today's Daily Bruin!