Charlotte Malone urges attendance at the withdrawal decision

Source scan page 70

On November 26 at about 7:30 PM the HB City Council may decide to withdraw from the L.A.
County Library System. A Council Library Sub-Committee recommended that separation would
serve the citizens better with: increased hours of operation; access to more books and other
materials; and a library more responsive to the citizens of Hermosa Beach.
The 35 hours/wk of operation are not commensurate with the amount of money HB homeowners
contribute to the County for library services ($530,000 in FY-02). HB is far down on the list to
receive equipment and materials from the County. In 1998, while other similar libraries were
receiving computers, HB was advised that it would be 2 years before computers were available
to HB. (The HBFOL purchased 2 computers for our library.) The materials budget has been
slashed from $17,026 to $5,000 this year. The Acting Librarian has already requested, and the
FOL has complied, that three more subscriptions be added to the 65 already contributed.
Direct access to materials could be more than doubled by affiliation with MCLS. Metropolitan
Cooperative Library Services is a group of 32 independent city libraries and special districts with
136 facilities, including the superior Los Angeles Public Library (67 branches), Long Beach (11
branches), and Santa Monica (3 branches). In addition residents could still have direct access to the L.A. County Library.
As the County experiences yet another economic crisis, the pool of new materials to borrow has
diminished and there have been longer waits for books as more borrowers compete for fewer
books. Municipal Libraries have a broader funding base. According to information received from
the California State Library, "Cities have significantly greater flexibility in revenue generation
than do counties. Cities generally have the best level of financial support among different types
of libraries in the State today." In fact, of the 179 public library jurisdictions in the State, 115 are
city run. A municipal library could expect more generous financial support from the community
if people can be assured that money will stay in HB and be administered by officials responsible
to the community. (In 01-02 almost $100,000 was paid for County administration and program specialists.)
Access to specialized material would be speedier as a municipal library. The shorter time of
delivery of specialized materials may be one of the reasons that 6069 HB residents are registered
borrowers this year at the Redondo Beach Library. Or perhaps it is the more convenient hours of
operation.
The question has been raised as to fees for borrowing books. The HB City Council, through its
library commission, would decide on fees. No fees would be charged Hermosa Beach residents.
In summary, through independence Hermosa Beach Library could: have longer hours of
operation; purchase more books and materials; have access to twice as many books. All this at no
cost to residents.
Please try to attend the November 26, around 7:30 PM, City Council meeting. Let the Council
see that you support becoming a city library. The other side ran in persons to back their view,
now the Council needs to hear from HB residents.
Chare malone