By TOM EVANS

Times Staff Writer

STAMFORD -- Although the city's budget of nearly $450 million was approved a week before, close to 30 people took to the sidewalk in front of the Government Center on Tuesday afternoon to decry the loss of $1.2 million from the coffers of the library system.

The request for the Ferguson Library and its satellite branches was $8.229 million, but Mayor Michael Pavia asked for -- and received -- $7 million for fiscal year 2010-11.

That same $7 million appears in the mayor's projected budget for the library system the following year, with a slight projected increase of $7.105 million for FY 2012-13.

Julie Gabay was one of the protest organizers and calls herself a concerned citizen that wants people to take notice of the drastic cuts that could produce reduced hours across the system or the closing of one or more of the branches.

"We're hoping someone can hear us, and that something can change," Gabay said. "We got an increase of nothing -- zero -- for the library, not even a couple thousand dollars."

Vivian Weiss is worried that the elimination of even one satellite could cut off senior citizens or those with mobility issues from library services.

"In the downtown (Ferguson) library, the only people who go there are people who can walk far from parking lots," said Weiss who uses the Harry Bennett branch on Vine Street. "There's no alternative other than one of the other branches. My pastime is reading, and I don't know how I can do that without a long walk."

Most of Tuesday's protesters were young children accompanied by parents, and they used placards to state their case, and bullhorns to urge passing motorists to "honk if you want to save the library" and other similar chants.

Lenore Vogel, another concerned parent, started a petition that she has circulated at schools, the grocery store and at the rally.

"I started the petition, and there was not one person who didn't want to sign it," Vogel said.

Shulie Schnelwar brought Zachary, who is 2 1/2 years old, to the protest, where Zachary said he "likes to read."

"Zachary uses the computer at the library, and I'm here because children need libraries," Schnelwar said. "Libraries are a source of education for them, and libraries form the roots of learning. It's not just schools that teach. It's also libraries. It's despicable anyone would close a library."

Maureen Bayne, president of the Friends of Ferguson Library, a group that supports various programs and activities at all branches, says this year's cut may be just the beginning.

"I love to see kids involved because the library does so much programming for kids," Bayne said. "It makes sense to stand up for the library. And the issue is not only the money lost this year. It's a question of where that money will be raised in years to come."

Bayne reiterated the fact that the library -- including its online resources -- continues to seek donations and actively searches for alternative revenue streams, calling it a "misconception that (the library) is not looking for outside funding."

"Even people who don't use the brick-and-mortar library use the online services for free," Bayne said. "And those services cost money. This is important to us. If it doesn't work (to restore the cuts) this year, how about next year?"
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