The KOLP achievement is not the conclusion of our efforts, but a testament to what we can accomplish when united. Save Blasco! is a rallying cry for communities everywhere to protect public spaces, demand accountability, and participate actively in local governance.
WHAT THE SETTLEMENT WON:
Lease cut from 25 years to 10 years
Free public access to Gannon leased space during library hours
Lease revenue dedicated to special library fund
No Gannon access to Idea Lab or classrooms and access to Hirt Auditorium/Admiral Room limited to paid use
Monthly usage reports to Library Director&Board
Gannon Nash Library use and WAIVED fees for Erie County Public Library card holders
Required public review for any future library leases or sales
THESE PROTECTIONS DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THE LAWSUIT
Please donate to help settle our remaining legal balance - online tax exempt at https://www.fundlibraries.org/erie or send a check to the address at https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/donate/
To: All those in power
Keep Our Library Public SAVE BLASCO!
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Stand With Us Against Misuse of Public Resources
Keep Our Library Public (KOLP) filed a legal complaint in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas to prevent 3200 square feet of Blasco Erie County Public Library in Erie County, PA from being leased to a tax-exempt, private, religious university.
Keep Our Library Public (KOLP) filed a legal complaint in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas to prevent 3200 square feet of Blasco Erie County Public Library in Erie County, PA from being leased to a tax-exempt, private, religious university.
Please watch SAVE BLASCO!, the award‑winning documentary the media ignored. It chronicles Erie community members rallying to protect the Blasco Memorial Library from a contentious lease agreement with Gannon University, a private Catholic Institution.
Help spread the word—watch and share SAVE BLASCO!, and see the EveryLibrary interview with director Cayce Mell and Anna McCartney: https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/save-blasco/
A settlement which the news media, other than the Erie Times-News, did not adequately cover was a big win for KOLP and the community.
The KOLP settlement made crucial changes to the Gannon lease, which didn’t exist before the lawsuit.
Major Changes
Help spread the word—watch and share SAVE BLASCO!, and see the EveryLibrary interview with director Cayce Mell and Anna McCartney: https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/save-blasco/
A settlement which the news media, other than the Erie Times-News, did not adequately cover was a big win for KOLP and the community.
The KOLP settlement made crucial changes to the Gannon lease, which didn’t exist before the lawsuit.
Major Changes
- Most importantly future leases or sales of library property will require public input.
- Gannon staff (NOT LIBRARY staff) must oversee their space and maintain library hours.
- Public Access to Gannon space must be FREE.
- Gannon can’t use the Idea Lab and classrooms.
- Access to the Hirt Auditorium/Admiral Room is restricted and must be paid for.
- Lease revenues will pay for library initiatives.
- Gannon’s monthly useage must be reported to the Library Board.
- Lease from 25 years to 10 years.
- ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY cardholders can use the Gannon Nash Library for FREE.
We couldn’t have done it without the support of hundreds and Every Library’s tools for tax‑exempt donations and petition signing.
Thank you to everyone who donated, spoke or attended County Council meetings, protested, watched SAVE BLASCO!, or otherwise helped — we couldn’t have succeeded without you.
Learn more at keepourlibrarypublic.com
- Reconnect with us and get updates and ask others to watch SAVE BLASCO and the EVERY LIBRARY interview with the director!
- Read the lawsuit https://keepourlibrarypublic.com/faqs/#why-are-we-suing-the-county-executive
Why is this important?
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and some members of the County Council wrongly entered into a lease agreement with Gannon University, a private, religious, tax-exempt institution without input or approval from taxpayers. The lease granted Gannon the takeover of 3200 square feet as well as access to substantial portions of the only public library located within the City of Erie—the Raymond M. Blasco Memorial Library.
Members and supporters of “Keep our Library Public” (KOLP) span all ages, genders, incomes, backgrounds, and political affiliations. We live and pay taxes in municipalities throughout Erie County. We believe our elected officials should carry out their official duties openly, responsibly, and with reasonable input from their constituents—the residents and taxpayers of Erie County.
But over and over again, our elected officials, the Bishop of the Erie Diocese, and the Gannon University administration, have ignored the voices of library users and hardworking taxpayers. The past County Council Chairman denied our right to speak at a December 2023 public meeting, and even had people removed from that meeting.
Sign and share this petition to tell our elected leaders and Gannon to listen to taxpayers, keep all libraries public, and protect our public resources.