School district scratches rally to save Duncan/Traner library

RENO, Nev., USA [Sunday 5-6-2012 10:54 p.m. PDT] — A rally to save the Duncan/Traner library, scheduled for Monday, May 7, has been scratched.

Outgoing Washoe County School District Superintendent Heath Morrison put the event on hold late Friday after concerned educators had distributed a news release about the event. Media ran the story on Sunday, May 6.

Staff now awaits a meeting with Washoe County Library Director Arnie Maurins scheduled for 7:30 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, May 8, at the Duncan/Traner Community Library, 1650 Carville Drive, Reno.

"I do not believe the meeting is closed and welcome you to attend if you are so inclined," one teacher wrote.

We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by the previous posting. KRNV TV-4 has told organizers that they will correct the story starting with their next newscast.

Here is the original memo distributed by concerned staff to the community and media. An order from Superitendent Morrison has since been promulgated muzzling all staff and ordering that community organizing activity cease —>

May 3, 2012

Reno Community Members:

We are writing on behalf of the Duncan/Traner Community Library located at 1650 Carville Drive in Reno. I'm sure you have heard that our library is facing the possibility of losing its joint-use with Washoe County. This would result in the library becoming a Glenn Duncan Elementary School library only, with no opportunity for the community to have access to this valuable neighborhood resource.

The Duncan/Traner library provides our community with full access to the Washoe County Public Library System's data bases and materials. This includes a collection of over 25,000 items including books, DVDs, music CD, graphic novels and periodicals for all age groups. The library also has 12 computers with internet and word processing capabilities.

While thousands of books are checked out at this library each week, this special library provides so much more than reading material! It also offers a safe haven for hundreds of our neighborhood kids who would otherwise have no safe, structured environment to spend their time. We do not want the streets to be their only option.

The library is used as a primary source for many our students to access the internet. Most of our students do not have computers in their homes and rely entirely on the library to complete their homework assignments. We talk the talk of closing the achievement gap, and the Duncan/Traner library helps to do just that. By providing access to literacy and technology, our library helps to level out the playing field, giving our students the opportunity to excel both academically and socially.

The closing of the Duncan/Traner Library would have a rippling, negative effect on many, many families in our neighborhood and our surrounding communities. [Emphasis added.]

Would you please join us on Monday, May 7 at 10:00 as we hold a "Save the Duncan/Traner Library Rally". We have invited members of the media and would love for you to join us to help get the word out about the powerful, positive impact that this special library has on our community.

Sincerely,

Glenn Duncan Elementary Staff

EDITOR'S NOTE: The downtown Reno main branch is the closest public library to Glenn Duncan Elementary and Traner Middle schools. It is miles away, effectively unavailable to many students who have no transportation. The main library's budget and hours have also been substantially curtailed. One insider said that staff harbors no hopeful expectations about the Tuesday morning redeye meeting. The timing is curious, as it will of necessity need to be shortened as teachers will need to get to class.