HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Moves Toward New Branch Library

The City Council has taken steps to open a branch library in the Oak View neighborhood, which officials describe as a blighted, high-crime area.

The council last week approved a $12,000 contract with Von Roon Architects of Laguna Beach to prepare site plans.

A $98,000 federal grant, which the city has already received, will pay for the architect, a 1,200-square-foot modular building and parking and landscaping.

However, an estimated $60,000 in yearly operating costs aren’t covered by the current grant. Officials hope that taking preliminary steps to open the library will help bring another grant to operate the facility.

If the library overcomes financial hurdles, its activities will focus on the area’s children and their parents. Story hours would be provided in English and Spanish.

The library would provide literacy services, homework assistance and basic library services emphasizing the importance of reading and education.

An elementary school, community center and police substation are located in the area.

“Libraries are great,” council member Jim Silva said, “but this is not the time to go into (new) capital improvements and ongoing expenses.”

Library Director Ron Hayden predicted that the library will open at Oak View in six or eight months “one way or the other.”

If grant money for staffing is not available, Hayden said, he will make changes at other libraries in order to operate at Oak View for at least 20 hours a week.

Hayden oversees the Central Library and three library branches.