TAKE ACTION

Libraries Need Your Voice.

All 12 Long Beach Public Library locations provide meaningful support to our community, ensuring equal access to educational materials, life-changing programs, and a welcoming community space. Mayor Rex Richardson heard our voices and worked with the Library Foundation to develop a budgetary framework that protects library hours and staffing and preserves strong library programming. He submitted this in a letter to the Budget Oversight Committee on September 1st.

Now we need your voice one more time, because Tuesday, September 8, the City Council makes its final decision on the FY 27 budget.

This is the moment that everything we’ve built together has been leading to.

What We’re Asking City Council To Support

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Council will vote to adopt the FY 27 budget (Item 19, File No. 26-55956), including:

Item 19.1 (File No. 26-55993) — the Mayor’s proposed budget recommendations, which reflect the library funding framework we’ve been fighting for
Item 19.2 (File No. 26-55994) — the Budget Oversight Committee’s proposed funding recommendations

Make Public Comment Now

The easiest way to make your voice count takes about 2 minutes:

Go to the Long Beach City Council public comment portal.
Find the meeting called “City Council – Revised” on Sept. 8.
Click on the blue speech bubble 💬 in the far right column.
Find Item 19.1 – Mayor’s Proposed Budget Recommendations.
Add your comment: In your own words, tell the Council why libraries matter to you!

Please submit by Tuesday, 9/8 at 3:00 PM; the City’s online comment window closes at 4:00 PM, an hour before the meeting starts, and we want to make sure your comment is in with time to spare.

Not sure what to say? Use these as a starting point, but write it your own way. Personal comments carry the most weight.

Why your neighborhood library matters to you, your family, or your community
Why keeping library hours, staffing, and services intact is important
That you support the Mayor’s FY 27 budget framework as it relates to libraries
A time the library made a difference for you
That you respectfully ask the Council to approve the Mayor’s recommendations

If the portal isn’t working for you, you can submit your comment via email to CityClerk@longbeach.gov instead. Just put this in the subject line: “Item 19.1 – Support Mayor’s FY27 Budget Recommendations and Long Beach Libraries”

Let’s finish this the way we started it: together. Thank you for your support and please see below to contact your Councilmember directly.

Become an LBPLF Champion Today:

You can play a crucial role in ensuring that our library continues to thrive and expand its services, touching more lives and opening more doors to learning and opportunity. Your time and voice make a difference!

Let City Council know how much you love your library and value their support for your neighborhood branch.
Find your elected officials here. Type in your address and click on the “Local” tab to find your Councilmember and their office’s contact information. If you already know your district, here are their offices’ email addresses:
District 1: Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, district1@longbeach.gov
District 2: Councilwoman Cindy Allen, district2@longbeach.gov
District 3: Councilwoman Kristina Duggan, district3@longbeach.gov
District 4: Councilman Daryl Supernaw, district4@longbeach.gov
District 5: Councilwoman Megan Kerr, district5@longbeach.gov
District 6: Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro, district6@longbeach.gov
District 7: Vice Mayor and Councilman Roberto Uranga, district7@longbeach.gov
District 8: Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, district8@longbeach.gov
District 9: Councilwoman Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie, district9@longbeach.gov
Find your neighborhood library branch here.
Not sure what to say? Click here to see the flyer with our asks to City Council. The petition also offers ideas.
Sign up to be a Champion below! This will add you to our dedicated email list, which will keep you informed about upcoming opportunities for volunteering, advocacy, community outreach, and more.
Spread the word to your friends, family, and community about supporting our libraries and share what the library means to you. Encourage them to sign our petition.
Stay further informed by signing up for our e-newsletter and following us on social media:

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Learn yours by visiting: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/

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Find locations at: https://www.longbeach.gov/library/visit/locations/

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Questions? Contact Kristen Hernandez, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, at kristen@lbplfoundation.org.