Newspaper clippings · June 15, 1978
Easy Reader report on threatened library cuts
Kevin Cody reports anticipated county library staff and service cuts after Proposition 13, with Shari Petresky and Carol Tanner comments and notice of June 28 Friends meeting. Describes proposed cuts, not proof they all occurred.
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Transcribed from the scans and checked against them by Claude. Typed text comes first; handwritten notes follow it. [illegible] marks words that cannot be read and [?] an uncertain reading.
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Beach People's Easy Reader, June 15, 1978
Sheri Petresky, Hermosa's head librarian, wears a button which originally read, "The libraries have it." Petresky modified the button to read, "The libraries have had it." Photo by Kevin Cody
MB, HB libraries may close doors
by Kevin Cody
"Booklovers will always find what they want in a library. Why bother to entice nonreaders into a library? Let them follow their own pursuits at their own expense." -- Pat Gazin, Hermosa Beach
"As for libraries, let's close them completely. Why be satisfied with half-measures. Booklovers will always find what they want in the supermarket racks, if not in adult bookshops." -- Jay Gould V, Hermosa Beach
-- Excerpts from letters sent to Easy Reader prior to the Proposition 13 election.
What were referred to as "scare tactics" prior to the June 6 election now appear to be a frightening reality to Shari Petresky, Hermosa's head librarian.
"It looks like we're going back to the dark ages," she said Saturday, anticipating what will happen if the county library budget submitted to the board of supervisors Monday is adopted.
The budget calls for a reduction in the number of county library employees from the present 1,795 to 384, and the closing of 13 of the system's 93 libraries, including the Manhattan Heights branch. The proposal also suggest charging users of the library $5 a year for use of the library, and five cents a day for borrowed books. The board of supervisors is expected to vote on the budget sometime during the week of June 20. (Redondo's library system is not affected by the board's action because it is operated by Redondo and not the county.)
Petresky said the libraries which will remain open, will probably only be open a few afternoons a week.
"Teams of three or four library employees will move from library to library during the day, opening each for a few hours. Personally, I think it's stupid to try to keep so many libraries open if they're not going to be able to offer decent service. They're going to have 11 custodians for the 80 libraries," Petresky said.
All ten people employed at Hermosa's library, including Petresky, who has worked for the county library system for ten years, will be let go if the proposed budget is adopted.
"New book orders have already been canceled. Magazines and newspapers will stop coming as subscriptions run out. And a lot of parents who drop their kids off at the library while they go to the market, or whose kids come here until their parents get off work, are going to have to find child care centers," Petresky said.
Carol Tanner, a part-time librarian at the Hermosa branch, noted that
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Some residents have talked about organizing "paperback garage libraries."
"But there would be no reference works, or at least no updated ones. What if someone wants to look at the new traffic code, or needs current information on a subject? People don't realize how much work it is to keep even a small library like this in order," Tanner said.
"I just wonder what California will be like five years from now when the flood control channels are dilapidated because 71 percent of the flood control district's employees were let go, and when the people who have TB and VD aren't tracked down, and kids are no longer taught how to use libraries," Petresky commented.
Editor's note: A special meeting of the Hermosa Friends of the Library will be held Wednesday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the library.
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Beach People's Easy Reader, June 15, 1978 ing reality to Shari Petresky, Hermo- sa's head librarian. "It looks like we're going back to the dark ages," she said Saturday, anticipating what will happen if the county library budget submitted to the board of supervisors Monday is adopted The budget calls for a reduction in the number of county library em- ployees from the present 1,795 to 384, and the closing of 13 of the system's 93 libraries, including the Manhattan Heights branch. The pro- posal also suggest charging users of Tadno the library $5 a year for use of the library, and five cents a day. for borrowed books. The board of super- LAR visors is expected to vote on. the budget sometime during the week of June 20. (Redondo's library system is Sheri Petresky, Hermosa's head libra- rian, wears a button which originally read, , "The libraries have it." Petresky modified the button to read, "The libraries have had it." Photo by Kevin Cody not affected by the board's action because it is operated by Redondo and not the county.) Petresky said the libraries which will remain open, will probably only be open a few afternoons a week. MB, HB libraries may close doors "Teams of three or four library em- ployees will move from library to library during the day, opening each for a few hours. Personally, I think it's stupid to try to keep so many libraries by Kevin Cody open if they're not going to be able to "Booklovers will always find what offer decent service. They're going to they want in a library. Why bother tohave 11 custodians for the 80 librar- entice nonreaders into a library? Let ies," Petresky said. them follow their own pursuits at their own expense." - Pat Gazin, All ten people employed at Her- Hermosa Beach mosa's library, including Petresky, who has worked for the county li- "As for libraries, let's close them completely. Why be satisfied with brary system for ten years, will be let half-measures. Booklovers will al- go if the proposed budget is adopted "New book orders have already ways find what they want in the been canceled. Magazines and news- supermarket racks, if not in adult bookshops." -Jay Gould V, Hermosa Beach papers will stop coming as subscrip- tions run out. And a lot of parents - Excerpts from letters sent to Easy who drop their kids off at the library Reader prior to the Proposition 13 while they go to the market, or whose election. kids come here until their parents get What were referred to as "scare off work, are going to have to find child care centers," Pretesky said tactics" prior to the June 6 election now appear to be a frighten- Carol Tanner, a part-time librarian at the Hermosa branch, noted that
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Page 3 ome residents have talked about or- flood control channels are dilapi- anizing "paperback garage librar- dated because 71 percent of the PS. flood control district's employees "But there would be no reference were let go, and when the people vorks, or at least no updated ones. who have TB and VD aren't tracked Vhat if someone wants to look at the down, and kids are no longer taught rew traffic code, or needs current how to use libraries," Petresky com- ¡formation on a subject? People mented. con't realize how much work it is to keep even a small library like this in Editor's note: A special meeting of order," Tanner said the Hermosa Friends of the Library "I just wonder what California will will be held Wednesday, June 28 at be like five years from now when the 7:30 p.m. at the library.