SANTA PAULA : Benefit Show to Support Library

Facing a budget shortfall that could force its closure for part of next year, the Blanchard Community Library in Santa Paula will benefit from a play at the Santa Paula Theater Center.

Proceeds from the $50-a-ticket benefit production Sunday of “You Can’t Take It With You” will become seed money for a fund-raising drive to keep the library’s doors open, librarian Daniel O. Robles said. He added that the library hopes to raise up to $5,000 from the performance.

Because library officials spent their $50,000 reserve to replace lost state funding this year, they will probably have to close the 70,000-volume library’s doors for up to three months beginning July 1, he said. “The scenario is we’ll definitely run out of money by June 30,” said Robles.

Budget cuts have already restricted the library’s operation to just three days a week for a total of 18 hours. The library is closed Fridays through Mondays.

To balance the library’s budget, Robles stopped ordering new books in September and has slashed the number of periodical subscriptions from about 70 to 25.

Dana Elcar, who founded the Santa Paula Theater Center eight years ago with fellow actor William Lucking, described the library’s situation as a blow to Santa Paula’s children.

“You never know when a child is going to work up the nerve to walk in the library’s door for the first time,” said Elcar, whose acting credits include the recently concluded “MacGyver” television series.

The special performance of the 1936 farce written by George F. Kaufman and Moss Hart will begin at 7 p.m., with a reception scheduled for 6 p.m. and another after the play’s final curtain. A number of Santa Paula businesses have contributed food and decorations for the event.

The need to contribute to the library is urgent, Elcar said. “The library is an important cultural part of the community,” he said. “It has to stay open.”

To order tickets or receive more information, call the library at 525- 2394.