Statement from guild regarding closure of library to go

​For Immediate Release 
January 5, 2021 
 
The Librarians’ Guild, AFSCME Local 2626, which represents the frontline librarians and supervisory librarians for the City of Los Angeles, stands with UTLA (United Teachers of LA), Unite Here Local 11, California Nurses Association, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, and SAG-AFTRA in calling for a month-long “circuit breaker” pause for in-person business and services in the Los Angeles area.  
 
Our colleagues at the Glendale (CA) Public Library have already realized that libraries have a choice: you are either part of the solution or part of the problem.  GPL has suspended their curbside pickup services to protect their workers and their patrons.  Keeping in person services open is clearly sending a message to the community that it is okay to leave your home and include a stop at the library as part of your essential errands.  Continuing to put frontline library workers’ health in jeopardy and encouraging Angelenos to leave their homes to pick up materials is irresponsible and unsafe at this terrible point in the pandemic. 
 
We recognize the heroic work that our frontline health and safety union siblings are performing in taking care of all of us during this unprecedented time.  Hospitals are beyond capacity, ambulances are being turned away for lack of beds, and health workers are exhausted.  We must all do our part to relieve the disastrous effect of this current surge. 



Librarians' Guild
AFSCME 2626
514 Shatto Place, LA 90020
President Lisa Palombi's Cell: 323-629-0235
Executive Vice President Tamiko Welch's cell: 562-881-9074
Website: librariansguildLA.org