Newspaper clippings · 1999Estimated date

Governor Davis supports library construction bonds

Michael Gardner reports a proposed $350 million statewide library bond measure and possible South Bay projects. Contextual clipping, not an HBFoL action.

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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.

Davis backs bonds for libraries South Bay cities eager for funding By Michael Gardner COPLEY NEWS SERVICE SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis has endorsed a $350 million bonds measure encouraging public libraries to forge partnerships with schools. "Helping libraries is helping kids," said Michael Bustamante, spokesman for the governor. The bonds measure is expected to be brought up today in the state Senate after clearing the Assembly late Tuesday night. It would go on the March ballot. The library bonds' prospects appeared bleak as attention focused on parks, water and transportation needs. But over the past week, Davis pushed hard after developing a proposal that would link money for libraries with one of his pet goals — improving literacy among children. "When the governor stepped in, people started talking," said Mike Dillon, a prominent library lobbyist. At the governor's insistence, the priority for the competitive grants would go to libraries that offer extensive programs for public-school students. Those programs could include a project as big as building a new public library on a school campus or could be as simple as setting aside more hours and rooms for children, Dillon said. The bonds measure also would give priority to older libraries that need funding to rewire for Internet access. "Some libraries are so old that computer access is impossible," Dillon said. Under terms of the bonds, libraries and schools would have to enter into cooperative agreements to provide joint-use projects before becoming eligible for grants. Libraries also would be required to put up local funds to cover 35 percent of the cost of any project funded from the bonds. It would be the first statewide library bonds since voters approved $75 million in 1988. That money supply was exhausted by just 24 projects. "I don't know of any library that won't have a need," said James Buckley, Torrance librarian. A crucial issue, Buckley said, is how strict the state will be when interpreting joint-use projects. "That is a new string that's going to present problems for a lot of libraries," he said. Remodeling of the main library in Torrance already is under way. "This may come a little late to help us," Buckley said. In Redondo Beach, bonds money could help remodel the north branch. "It's a very real possibility," said Erin Schoonover, senior librarian. "It's something we would certainly look at." State Sen. Richard Rainey, a Walnut Creek Republican carrying the bill, estimated that it would cost $2 billion to rebuild California's public-library system. "This is a great first step," Rainey said. "There is a tremendous need." This is Davis' second significant commitment to libraries in his first year. He also approved an additional $18 million for local libraries in the 1999-2000 budget. This would be the second bonds measure for the March ballot. Lawmakers have already approved $2 billion for parks that Davis has pledged to sign. Another potential bonds measure that could crowd the ballot would set aside $1.5 billion for water projects. An $8 billion transportation bonds measure has stalled and appears to be defeated for the year.

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Davis backs bonds for libraries
in
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sta
South Bay cities eager for funding sent problems for a lot of libraries," he
said
By Michael Gardner Those programs could include a project Remodeling of the main library in Tor-
rance already is under way.
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE as big as building a new public library on a "This may come a little late to help us,"
school campus or could be as simple as
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Gray Davis has setting aside more hours and rooms for Buckley said.
endorsed a $350 million bonds measure en- children, Dillon said In Redondo Beach, bonds money could
couraging public libraries to forge partner- The bonds measure also would give pri- help remodel the north branch.
ships with schools. ority to older libraries that need funding to "It's a very real possibility," said Erin
"Helping libraries is helping kids," said rewire for Internet access. Schoonover, senior librarian. "It's some
Michael Bustamante, spokesman for the "Some libraries are so old that computer thing we would certainly look at."
governor. access is impossible," Dillon said. State Sen. Richard Rainey, a Walnut
The bonds measure is expected to be Under terms of the bonds, libraries and Creek Republican carrying the bill, estimat-
brought up today in the state Senate after schools would have to enter into coopera- ed that it would cost $2 billion to rebuild
clearing the Assembly late Tuesday night. tive agreements to provide joint-use pro- California's public-library system.
It would go on the March ballot. jects before becoming eligible for grants. "This is a great first step," Rainey said.
The library bonds' prospects appeared Libraries also would be required to put "There is a tremendous need."
bleak as attention focused on parks, water up local funds to cover 35 percent of the This is Davis' second significant commit-
and transportation needs. But over the past cost of any project funded from the bonds. ment to libraries in his first year. He also
week, Davis pushed hard after developing a It would be the first statewide library approved an additional $18 million for local
proposal that would link money for librar- bonds since voters approved $75 million in libraries in the 1999-2000 budget.
ies with one of his pet goals - improving 1988. That money supply was exhausted by This would be the second bonds measure
literacy among children. just 24 projects. for the March ballot. Lawmakers have al-
"When the governor stepped in, people "I don't know of any library that won't ready approved $2 billion for parks that
started talking" said Mike Dillon, a promi- have a need," said James Buckley, Tor- Davis has pledged to sign.
nent library lobbyist. rance librarian. Another potential bonds measure that
At the governor's insistence, the priority A crucial issue, Buckley said, is how could crowd the ballot would set aside
for the competitive grants would go to li- strict the state will be when interpreting $1.5 billion for water projects. An $8 billion
braries that offer extensive programs for joint-use projects. transportation bonds measure has stalled
public-school students. "That is a new string that's going to pre- and appears to be defeated for the year.
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