Residents Lobby for Corner to Expand Studio City Library

Studio City residents lobbied the Los Angeles Board of Library Commissioners on Thursday to buy a vacant corner for future expansion of the community’s branch library and its parking lot.

The Studio City Library, 4400 Babcock Ave., is crowded by at least 58,000 books--more than twice its intended capacity--and its 19-space parking lot is usually full, said Gerald A. Kurland of the Studio City Residents Assn.

When a gasoline station next door was torn down earlier this year, Kurland said library patrons began wondering if the land could be purchased to ease the crowding.

Conversations with the property owner were encouraging, he told the library board Thursday. “But any day he could change his mind. We need to act swiftly.”

Commissioners offered the residents little encouragement. They asked the board’s staff to review the proposal, but said long-term plans adopted last year call for moving the branch to a commercial location.

In general, library board members believe that small branch libraries fare better in commercial centers, where there is better security and more parking, said board Vice President Sanford P. Paris.

“We find that we get more use out of libraries in a commercial facility, where parents can come, drop off the kids . . . and do other things with one parking stop,” Paris said.

Also, money for land purchases and library expansion is short because older libraries that need earthquake strengthening have funding priority, he said.

Far from being discouraged, Kurland said after the meeting that the residents--who have letters of support from Councilmen Michael Woo and Joel Wachs, who represent the area--plan to take the issue to the City Council.

They already have 1,150 signatures on a petition endorsing the idea. Kurland and Fred Gaines, representing Friends of the Studio City Library, said they would continue distributing the petition and contacting community organizations, including the Parent-Teacher-Student associations at local schools.

“We need to get the kids involved,” Kurland said. “They really feel the impact probably most of all.”