Calling Miami-Dade residents, students, teachers, librarians, bibliophiles and those who support literacy programs to support a petition to help save Miami-Dade libraries. Illiteracy is at an all time high. According to a Miami-Herald article, Miami-Dade mayor, Gimenez, is proposing shutting down 22 libraries out of 49. This is unacceptable! John J. Quick, president of Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library System, said it best, calling the commission’s decision “a true disappointment.” The vote, he said in an email to the Miami Herald, “will severely limit, if not eliminate, the library system’s community programs, including its adult and childhood literacy programs, which are so important to the progress and success of this County.”

We simple can't afford to lose one more child to illiteracy. Education, at its least, is an inalienable right for all. As a single mother and tax payer, I made sure my daughter checked out at least one book per month from our local Miami Beach library. With so many struggling parents and adults, the very least we can offer them is child and adult literacy programs.

Don't allow Miami-Dade commissioners to perpetuate illiteracy! Let's get to at least 5,000 supporters of this petition, and send a strong message that we will not tolerate this proposal. Let's send a strong message that we'll remember every Miami-Dade politician who votes YES for shutting down Miami-Dade public libraries. We're taking notes, and we'll remember them in the next election!

If you'd like to take this a step further, here is a contact link for local Miami-Dade politicians: http://www.miamidade.gov/commission/contact.asp