Newspaper clippings · September 1993Estimated date

Friends of H.B. library set to study separation from county

A published clipping draws on the September 1993 Friends release about examining alternatives. The organization is described as 34 years old.

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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.

Friends of H.B. library set to study separation from county Board members of the Friends of the Library in Hermosa Beach have unanimously urged city officials to inquire into separation from the Los Angeles County library system. In a resolution adopted Sept. 15, the group asked that the city staff be directed to "investigate the particulars (including costs and legalities) of withdrawing" from the county affiliation. The move follows the most recent cutback in library operating hours. The facility is now open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for seven hours each day. The group requested that the city examine a possible linkage with an existing independent library, such as the one in Redondo Beach, and that it consider coordination with Manhattan Beach, which is also currently part of the county system and has suffered similar cutbacks. The City Council there has appointed a commission to study library options. The Friends of the Library is a 34-year-old volunteer group that raises more than $14,000 a year to support the Hermosa facility, primarily through sales of donated books. In its resolution, they urged that "no efforts be made" to raise additional funds to try to restore library hours under the current arrangement, citing "uncertainties over the management and costs of the existing countywide operation." Hermosa Beach turned over its city library to the county in 1961. "The objective of the Friends of the Library is to restore full library service to the community," said Al Valdes, the group's president and a former Hermosa mayor. "What we're seeking to do by the resolution is to explore all options. In this time of budgetary strain, there may be some merit in establishing an independent operation that won't be encumbered by the overhead the present library system has."

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Friends of H.B. library set to
study separation from county
Board members of the Friends of the The Friends of the Library is a 34-
Library in Hermosa Beach have unan- year-old volunteer group that raises more
imously urged city officials to inquire than $14,000 a year to support the
into separation from the Los Angeles Hermosa facility, primarily through sales
County library system. of donated books.
In a resolution adopted Sept. 15, the In its resolution, they urged that "no
group asked that the city staff be directed efforts be made" to raise additional funds
to "investigate the particulars (including to try to restore library hours under the
costs and legalities) of withdrawing" current arrangement, citing "uncertain-
from the county affiliation. The move ties over the management and costs of
follows the most recent cutback in library the existing countywide operation."
operating hours. The facility is now open Hermosa Beach turned over its city
only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for library to the county in 1961.
seven hours each day. "The objective of the Friends of the
The group requested that the city Library is to restore full library service
examine a possible linkage with an to the community," said Al Valdes, the
existing independent library, such as the group's president and a former Hermosa
one in Redondo Beach, and that it mayor. "What we're seeking to do by the
consider coordination with Manhattan resolution is to explore all options. In
Beach, which is also currently part of the this time of budgetary strain, there may
county system and has suffered similar be some merit in establishing an inde-
cutbacks. The City Council there has pendent operation that won't be encum-
appointed a commission to study library bered by the overhead the present library
options. system has."