University City (UC) residents have recently clashed over several controversial issues, but community members came together Nov. 18 and 22, rallying to collect signatures in an effort to save the south UC library. Residents sent petitions to Mayor Jerry Sanders and council members, asking for his support. “The City Council — when they made their decision Tuesday — said it directly impacted their vote,” University City Community Association (UCCA) member Sandy Lippe. “[Councilman Jim] Madaffer said he received hundreds of e-mails and Scott Peters said he hasn’t seen UC pull together like this.” Despite a large pension deficit, the San Diego City Council voted 6-1 Monday, Nov. 25 to keep libraries and recreation centers open for the next six months. However, UC residents said they Sanders’ recent call for the cuts. “I feel good. I know we saved libraries for another six months, but what is painful is the mayor will probably put the [libraries] on the chopping block in another six months,” Lippe said. According to Lippe, hundreds of residents attended the events supporting libraries and encouraged locals to sign petitions. A Nov. 18 Curie Elementary School rally included children and locals, and a Nov. 22 rally in UC included seven area communities threatened with library cuts. Nancy Carr, whose 6-year-old daughter attends the elementary school, said she organized the Nov. 18 Curie School rally adjacent to the UC library after learning that her library was on the closure list. “We’ve been going to the library since she was a baby,” Carr said. “I never did anything like this before. One weekend I just decided, ‘I’ve got to do something,’ and I e-mailed all my friends, and they e-mailed all their friends.” Carr said she adores the UC library and has donated books and movies to the organization. “It’s our refuge,” she said. So Carr encouraged everyone she knew to tell everyone they knew to create signs for the Nov. 18 rally. “It was a great turnout,” Carr said. “We held signs and walked across to the library.” More than 100 people turned out for the Curie rally but Saturday’s UCCA members stepped up their protests during the rally, creating petitions they took to local shopping centers, Lippe said. “Seven communities rallied on Saturday collecting 1,070 signatures in opposition to closing the library, and I did take that to Sanders and city hall,” Lippe said. The decision to protect the popular programs and services will come at a cost. Some of the money used this time to keep the libraries open was supposed to pay for library improvements. Mayoral spokeswoman Rachel Liang said council’s decision could affect plans for the new proposed Downtown Central library. The incoming City Council will revisit budget issues again in May. Lippe said the community should prepare for the months ahead. For more information, or to help local libraries, visit www.supportmylibrary.org. (See related stories.)