OAK PARK : Supervisor Urged to Back Bigger Library

The Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council wants County Supervisor Maria VanderKolk to explore ways residents can get a bigger library and to stop pushing for the community to endorse a proposal to develop a regional facility.

The advisory council voted unanimously Tuesday to urge VanderKolk to work with county officials to get a larger community library built. The Oak Park Public Library now operates jointly with Oak Park High School Library in a building on the school campus.

The council’s vote was intended to send a message to VanderKolk that residents are not interested in joining with the neighboring Los Angeles County city of Agoura Hills in building a regional library, which VanderKolk has advocated, Councilman Ron Stark said.

VanderKolk could not be reached for comment. But she has stated previously that she thinks the community of Oak Park could best improve its library services by joining in building the planned regional library.

Advisory Council Chairman Duane Skavdahl said council members want VanderKolk to work with other county officials to determine if it is physically and economically feasible for the community to build an 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot library on school district property along Kanan Road.

Staff members from VanderKolk’s office have previously warned that the proposed site may not hold a building larger than 5,000 square feet. In addition, VanderKolk has said the community may not be able to afford to fully staff its own library.