New mural at Foster Library
The traumatic 2009 closure of Wright Library still resonates amongst library supporters in town. Faced with the reality that the fragile County Library system could no longer afford to subsidize three branches in Ventura, the decision was made to consolidate Wright with the Downtown E.P. Foster Library. The shift has certainly improved Foster — with more staff, a revamped collection and more hours, the Downtown Library is far busier these days. But with nearly 90 per cent of the population east of Downtown, many east end residents, especially children, no longer have convenient access to a library.
Voters turned down Measure A in 2009 which would have kept Wright open as part of a temporary sales tax hike to match the one approved by Oxnard the year 
before. Then Camarillo joined Moorpark in pulling out of the County system, further weakening the regional approach for sharing books and staff. The Ventura City Council directed that a new “Library Strategic Plan” be forged, not only to decide whether to stay within the County system, but to seek consensus on what kind of service Ventura residents want — and what kind they are willing to pay for.
With a June 2011 deadline for notifying the County of our decision to stay or go, the Council authorized the hiring of a nationally-known library consultant to shepherd the process. With the City operating on 100 fewer staff due to budget cuts, there wasn’t internal capacity to mount a comprehensive effort, including extensive outreach to the public. A citizen steering committee was assembled to oversee the strategic planning effort. Battle lines quickly formed over the issue of “privatization” of libraries.
Both Moorpark and Camarillo had turned to LSSI, the nation’s only privately-owned library system operator, a Maryland-based corporation that claims lower costs for delivering library services. Some disgruntled Wright advocates hoped that a low bid from LSSI might save enough to re-open the closed branch.
Others decried the threat of losing their “public” library to an operator motivated by private profit instead of community service. These included not only union sympathizers, but many loyal library supporters. They argued that the “savings” offered by LSSI came not from efficiencies, but simply lower pay and benefits for librarians which they saw as a threat to the long-term viability of excellent libraries.
MaryEllin Santiago
MaryEllin Santiago, the library expert hired by the City, warned against focusing solely on “who” offers library services. She urged our community to focus on the equally important questions of “what” library services we want and “how much” library services we are willing to pay for.
Too often, the stormy debates over library services in Ventura have narrowly focused the “what” question on “number of hours libraries are open.” Sure, that’s important, but the amount of time the doors are open ignores
significant questions about what happens inside. Clearly, 21st Century library services are going to be very different from primarily buying, shelving and lending books. Many people still love books, but in the digital age, libraries must adapt to the rapidly morphing ways people learn and access information. A library primarily devoted to housing books is doomed to shrinking relevance.
Feedback from Ventura residents confirmed that view. More than 1500 residents participated in a survey on what they wanted
from their libraries. Comments focused on three goals:
1. Libraries are important to help our children be educated.
2. Libraries are a source for information and learning for all ages.
3. Libraries can be a place to go and enjoy cultural and family activities.
“How much” of such services we are willing to pay for is an even more pointed question. Santiago provided up-to-date figures that shows Ventura taxpayers provide far less support for libraries than most communities in California. Ventura residents would like three libraries, up-to-date books and materials, frequent cultural and family activities and friendly, helpful librarians. But how committed are they to paying for them? Here’s the average annual spending for library services:
- National average $48 per resident
- State of California: $34 per resident
- Ventura County: $24 per resident
- City of Ventura: $17.45 per resident
The June deadline ended up a moot issue. The County has dissolved the defunct “Memorandum of Understanding” that had been such a source of contention with member cities. That also changes the deadline for withdrawing from the system to December 31 of each year.
With that new deadline looming, the key library questions are now coming to a head. Santiago sought responses from the County, LSSI and other nearby independent city libraries on what services they would offer Ventura at our current funding level.
LSSI declined to participate as did nearby independent city libraries. The County provided info on its current services, but made clear additional services would require additional funding.
The citizen steering committee met this week to consider those responses. They meet again on October 12 to finalize their recommendations to the Library Advisory Commission and the City Council. There was sentiment to seek formal agreement with the County to provide a different mix of services, including re-establishing a branch to better serve the eastside. That desire, however, may conflict with the County’s aversion to strike separate agreements with the remaining four cities it serves, particularly without additional funding from Ventura.
Library supporters like to quote writer Anne Herbert’s quip that “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.” It remains to be seen how libraries will fare in Ventura in these tough economic times. Neither the status quo nor privatization look like panaceas. Perhaps it is well to keep in mind the anonymous quote of a member of the British War Cabinet in the dark days of World War II: “We are out of money. We are going to have to think.”
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I believe that the libraries should be paid for by those that want to use them. I have no interest in paying for a building to house books. All you would need to serve the needs of our community would be a small office with maybe 10 computers, on which you would store all of the books that were in the old libraries and all the new ones you might get. Anyone who wants to look at a book would then download that book to their own computer and read it. No cost to anyone. The office with the computers would be for people who want to access information from books but who do not
have their own computer to use. One staff member to manage the office and one computer tech to keep adding books to the library website would be all that is necessary, as well as standby personnel, in case the regulars are sick, etc. The people who require that the
library office be there, are the ones who should pay for it. If they need to take info with them, out of the library, you could transfer that info onto a CD, or a DVD for them and charge them the few cents that that info would cost, as well as charging them for the actual costs of any hard copies they want printed out of anything.
This would eliminate the need for any return issues that you currently have with books not being returned and the fines associated with those people who don’t return them. We don’t
need to have libraries for the purpose of entertaining the community. Those services should be separate and available in
other building venues in the city and once again, paid for by those
who want those services. I would like to see audio books made available, via computer. I have access to free computers for people who don’t have one if you want to refer them to me, I can get them set up. I am too busy with my life’s activities to read books. Something I think would be great is for information books
to be summarized and that short, straight to the point, no hype, fluff, filler, or BS version be made available to those of us who just want info with no rhetoric, entertainment, or humor weighing it down. Trying to operate and maintain a hard copy book holding building in today’s world is just silly. My Republican women’s group was asking for money to buy books for the Camarillo Library
and the schools there. I would not contribute because I consider it a waste of money to just add more hard copy books to systems that
are now archaic, expensive and no longer affordable.
Donna
i don’t own and e-book…and never will. i love good old paper…but..i also have not been to a library in YEARS. no need. i buy books online and/or share them with my other book friends. BUT..if you stuck a Tea Leaf & Coffee Bean inside the downtown library…I would spend a couple quiet hours there on a Sunday…IF they would be open on a Sunday.
I could imagine – “We are out of money. We are going to have to cooperate.”
I love going to the library and getting out books which I do frequently. There is a previous comment which said that only people who use libraries should have to pay for them. This is incorrect. We all pay for schools even though many of us do not have children in schools and that is only one example. I did vote for the sales tax increase. Idon’t understand one of the 3 goals cited by Cole — Libraries can be a place to go and enjoy cultural and family activities. I do not consider that one of their prime missions. I disagree strongly with the idea of privatization.
I enjoy reading books both fiction and non-fiction and go to the library frequently. I did vote for the sales tax increase. I disagree with a previous comment that only people who use libraries should have to pay for them. We all pay for schools although many of us do not have children attending them. The same is true for many other services. I disgree strongly with the idea of privatization.
Based on the information in this article and the story on the LAC that appeared in the Ventura County Star, I would not be surprised to see a final recommendation of “status quo.”
The commenter above mentions the mindset (of many) behind the thinking, “I don’t have children — why should I pay to educate someone else’s kids?” The reason is that others (who might not have had kids) paid for your education. Pass it on, remember? The same goes for libraries. When you were a kid, you probably went to a library to do your homework, and guess what? The homework got done. Back home there were distractions like Sis’s blaring music and Fido’s incessant barking. Think back. The library was not only quiet, you had everything at your fingertips. Did one encyclopedia not have the information? You tried another. (Credible information, too. Not Wikipedia.) Maybe you met up with a couple of friends and studied together. Wouldn’t that be a concept?
You probably did these things and never thought once about someone else paying for it … and oh, yes, plenty of childless couples chipped in. But we don’t think like this anymore. We don’t think about what it takes to build a society or educate an entire nation the way we used to back when 99% of the greatest inventions of Mankind came from the minds inside our borders.
So the Internet now is going to take over, is that right? Try this on for size ~ It’s really just since the Internet age the the U.S. has fallen behind in education. Whad’y'a think? Just a coincidence, is that it? And here’s something else you never thought about — books last almost forever while digital media practically “dissolves” into the air. Gonna copy a book to a CD? Gonna re-copy it to another CD every 5-to-10 years? If we stopped producing books, we could lose 200 years of critical human knowledge before we discoverd the problem.
This kind of public discussion doesn’t even warrant the time being taken to blather about it. Libraries build communities and communities build nations. You (plural) reaped the benefit when you were young, and now you (plural) don’t see the value. Don’t disparage all of the “old saws” like Anne Herbert’s. Some of them are true.
Throughout discussions on the library system I haven’t seen any discussion about the role of local school libraries. Many of those supporting Wright library decrided the closer because their children would no longer have library access. My three kids relied on their school libraries much more then Wright. Perhaps we could establish a book share program with the local schools.
It’s obvious to me that Ms. Sylvester has no idea what she’s talking about. Even books that are available to download to your computer are not free. Where does she think the books come from? There are copyright laws that prohibit people from copying and downloading published works. Libraries have databases that allow cardholders to download copies of books to pc’s or e-readers but the databases are paid for, they are not free.
There are databases that have free books to download, like Project Gutenberg, but they have books that are no longer under copyright. If you want to read a current book on your pc or e-reader, you have to either pay for it or check it out through the library’s databases, which, while free to card holders, are not free to the library.
Current libraries are not simply repositories for old, moldy books. They have databases available, computers for people to use, resources that enable people to further their education – both online and in hard copy form.
Being short-sighted and selfish only diminishes our community, it does not offer anything constructive. If you haven’t been in a library for a while, you should take a look inside. It may not be perfect but it’s still one of the few resources anyone can access regardless of intellect, color, religion or economic status.
I do not see the library as an entertainment center. And it is still releveant to house books. There are many good books in the EP Foster library that ARE NOT available digitally. Also, serious readers still by far prefer paper. That is why ebooks at Amazon etc. have never taken over. The book is a good invention- it does not require electricity, can be read and taken anywhere and many people who read books have difficulty on computer screens. Putting a coffe bar ina library can help. EP Foster is also part of our art and cultural scene. At a time when many major US cities are building, or have recently built, NEW libraries because of their positive economic impact on their downtowns, as usual, we are trying to head in the opposite direction. I am against privatization. I do not see libraries as an activity center – there are better places for that. If the city was smart it would be thinking of how to turn the EP Foster library with its beautiful original art deco architecture into a major attraction and anchor for its downtown Main street corridor. Remember, the United States is one of the few countries in the world that even HAS public libraries: they are a fundamental part of our freedom and creativity and innovation. YOU may not use the library, but there’s a good chance that the kid who invents the next great technology or economic game-changer for the US probably will! A recent survey of American nobel prize winners revealed that EVERY SINGLE one was a heavy user of public libraries as a kid. think about THAT. Get rid of the libraries and we are just like everyone else …
AS I WORKED AT THE LIBRARY FOR 3 MONTHS, i NOTICED that how many families and low income/”sharing resources” minded people used the facility. What ever the outcome, there is a use for this service, regardless and in partnership with e-mediums and literature.
We are in a time of paradym change in America. We must think creatively, and seek partnerships. Libraries could include coffee houses, art displays and sales, book and magazine sales, and more.
They could have lectures, music presentations, reader’s theater, and debates. They could have demonstrations of many types, which are related to books and magazines available in the library. Seniors could be recruited to aid students with homework in certain areas. Imagine the level of use these varied things would generate.
Most of these things would be in partnership with private business, through leasing agreements, and other through one-time charges.
Some of the activities could be provided by the cost of tickets. The cost to the city or county would be greatly diminished, while the city would maintain control, and be able to provide current materials.
We can no longer have what we have had. We must think proactively, creatively and with concern for the quality of life for our community. What other creative thoughts are out there?
Thank you for your explanation of the process, Mr. Cole. After attending most of the meetings held in regard to Ventura Libraries during the past two years, I offer a few comments:
1. Free libraries are essential to an enlightened city, state, and nation.
2. The “old” model of the library that I grew up with is not as relevant as it once was.
3. Modern libraries must fulfill the changing needs of today’s diverse population.
4. Libraries are changing all over the country and adapting to new technology.
(In March, 2011, I personally interviewed and took photos of revitalized libraries in Tucson,
San Carlos, and Burlingame. They were inviting and active.) We can market our services
in such a way to excite, inform and encourage Venturans to use our libraries.
5. Ventura has tallied citizens’ responses to a survey which solicited their input as to what
services our libraries should provide. Survey results in addition to the qualified consultant’s
research indicate that Ventura libraries serve the public well in some areas, but are lacking in
other areas. The public is requesting more materials, programming, technology and another
location.
6. Suggestion: The Strategic Planning Committee and the Library Advisory Committee
recommend that the City Council negotiate with the Ventura County Library System to
make specific changes to the services we now receive or it will recommend withdrawing
from the County Library System, and establish a new, city-managed library department to
operate its own libraries.
7 Ventura could use the $1.7 million it now collects in property tax to operate its own libraries,
including adding a library in East Ventura. We would be in control of our own budget, set
our own priorities, and be able to introduce innovative ideas. Think about leasing out the main
floor of E.P. Foster and moving the books that people actually use to the second floor.
The money collected from the lease could help support a location in East Ventura.
The next open meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee is October 12, at 7 p.m. in the
Topping Room, E.P. Foster Library.