Lakewood : Group Plans Book Sale to Help Keep Library Open

A citizens group raising funds to save the beleaguered Weingart Library at Palms Park will have a book sale Saturday.

Donated books and library discards will be sold from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park at 12305 207th St. by Friends of the Weingart Library.

The group will also have a fund-raising reception for mystery writers Emily Brightwell and Patricia McFall at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the library. Tickets are $7.50.

The library, which faced closure in November by the County of Los Angeles Public Library System as a cost-cutting measure, has been kept open on a limited schedule but again faces closure, this time on Feb. 19. David Flint, assistant finance and planning director of the library system, said Weingart’s future depends on how much money fund-raisers can guarantee.

According to officials, Friends of the Library has raised about $1,900. The Weingart Foundation, which was formed by pioneer Lakewood developer Ben Weingart and his wife, will match any amount raised up to $50,000. The library was kept open on a month-to-month basis after the city of Lakewood returned $18,000 the county had paid in advance rent for the library building and took over utility bills previously paid by the county.