Newspaper clippings · 1994-10–1994-12Estimated date
County restores service at six libraries
Clipping describes restored funding and includes Hermosa among the branches scheduled to extend hours. It begins mid-article.
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South Bay with the restoration of hours, staff and services at six county libraries.
The restoration of hours, made possible by the infusion of $22.5 million into the county's library system, applies to libraries in Gardena, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne and Lennox.
Other local libraries, including ones in Carson, Hermosa Beach and another Hawthorne branch, will go back to a full or near-full schedule by mid-December.
Large libraries, such as the main Carson branch, will be open seven days or 60 hours a week, as compared to the four-day, 28-hour schedule in place since August 1993.
Small libraries, such as Victoria Park in Carson, will be open five days a week, for a total of 30 to 35 hours, as compared to the two-day, 14-hour schedule.
The 84-branch county library system was hit by massive budget cuts in August 1993. Hours were reduced 60 percent, 300 workers were laid off and 10 branches were closed to help plug a $10 million hole in the library budget.
The budget cuts took a toll. Magazine subscriptions weren't renewed. Librarians appealed to the public for donations. When readers asked for the latest best-seller, they would only find two or three copies in the entire county, compared to the 40 to 45 normally purchased.
The county Board of Supervisors considered this summer adding $28.50 onto individual property tax bills to help pay for the libraries. But the idea proved unpopular with taxpayer groups and local city councils.
Supervisors instead decided last month to give $22.5 million to the libraries by increasing their projections on how much property tax will be collected.
■ Lomita, 24200 Narbonne Ave.
■ Manhattan Beach, 1320 Highland Ave.
■ Hawthorne, 12700 Grevillea Ave.
■ Lennox, 4359 Lennox Blvd.
Libraries with extended hours by mid-December:
■ Carson, 151 E. Carson St.
■ Carson-Victoria Park, 17906 S. Avalon Blvd.
■ Hermosa Beach, 550 Pier Ave.
■ Hawthorne-Wiseburn, 5335 W. 135th St.
The money allows officials to rehire workers, reorder materials and reinvigorate closed programs.
That means the return of story time for children, county librarians' visits to local schools and use of library space for special classes, said Dick Beebe, a special assistant in public service for the county library system. It also means the return of Value Line, a popular publication on the stock market.
Officials originally hoped to return all libraries to their pre-August 1993 hours by this week. But some branches won't be on extended schedules because of problems rehiring workers.
Libraries could be forced to cut back, however, in July.
Supervisors have set aside $10 million for the libraries for the next budget year, beginning July 1 — an amount that isn't enough to keep the long hours, said Roy Hanson, head of fiscal services for the county library system.
"They're being optimistic and that's a big problem," he said.
County libraries' funds have been dwindling since 1992, when Gov. Pete Wilson and the state Legislature decided to use property taxes normally destined for the library budget to the public schools budget.
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cumcuarn VItO AXE ? Lomita, 24200 Narbonne South Bay with the restoration Ave. of hours, staff and services at ? Manhattan Beach, 1320 six county libraries. Highland Ave. The restorationof hours, ? Hawthorne, 12700 Grevillea Ave. n made possible by the infusion of $22.5 million into the coun ty's library system, applies to ? Lennox, 4359 Lennox Blvd. early? - libraries in Gardena, Lomita, Libraries with extended Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne hours by mid-December: and Lennox. ? Carson, 151 E. Carson St. Other local libraries, includ- ? Carson-Victoria Park, 17906 ing ones in Carson, Hermosa S. Avalon Blvd. Beach and another Hawthorne ? Hermosa Beach, 550 Pier Ave. branch, will go back to a full or near-full schedule by mid-De- ? Hawthorne-Wiseburn, 5335; cember. W. 135th St. Large libraries, such as the main Carson branch,will be The money allows officials to open seven days or 60 hours a rehire workers, reorder materi- week, as compared to the four- als and reinvigorate closed pro- day, 28-hour schedule in place grams. since August 1993. That means the return of sto- Small libraries, such as Victo- ry time for children, county li- ria Park in Carson, will be open brarians' visits to local schools five days a week, for a total of and use of library space for spe- 30 to 35 hours, as compared to cial classes, said Dick Beebe, a the two-day, 14-hour schedule. special assistant in public ser- The 84-branch county library vice for the county library sys- system was hit by massive bud- tem. It also means the return of get cuts in August 1993. Hours Value Line, a popular publica- were reduced 60 percent, 300 workers were laid off and 10 tion on the stock market. Officials originally hoped to branches were closed to help return all libraries to their pre- plug a $10 million hole in the August 1993 hours by this library budget. week. But some branches won't The budget cuts took a toll. be on extended schedules be- Magazine subscriptions weren't cause of problems rehiring renewed. Librarians appealed to workers. the public for donations. When readers asked for the latest Libraries could be forced to cut back, however, in July. best-seller, they would only find Supervisors have set aside two or three copies in the entire $10 million for the libraries for county, compared to the 40 to the next budget year, beginning 45 normally purchased. July 1 - an amount that isn't The county Board of Super- enough to keep the long hours, visors considered this summer said Roy Hanson, head of fiscal adding $28.50 onto individual services for the county library system. property tax bills to help pay Lor the libraries. But the idea "They're being optimistic and proved unpopular with taxpay- that's a big problem," he said. er groups and local city coun cils. County libraries' funds have been dwindling since 1992, Supervisors instead decided when Gov. Pete Wilson and the lo the ore by is millions their projetions on how much property tax will be collected. state Legislature decided to use property taxes normally des- tined for the library budget to the public schools budget.