(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) 22 August — Public library backers are set to unveil the “privitization monster” (pictured at left) to highlight their efforts to block attempts to turn public libraries into entities run by private contractors.

Spearheaded by Service Employees International Union, the media event that is slated for 2PM on Monday at the state Capitol will aim to gin up additional support for CTA-backed AB 438 by Assembly Member Das Williams.

Among other things, those at the rally are slated to read from a “mocked-up” children’s book entitled, “The Privatization
Beast Comes to Our Town.” The bill’s supporters note the privitization of libraries would lead to increased fees to users, something contrary to the spirit of public libraries, which owe their existence to work by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia more than 200 years ago.