CULTURE WATCH : Shuttered Minds?

Few among us would rank public libraries above police or fire departments in being deserving of sparse local revenues during this seemingly endless, and increasingly painful, recession. At the same time, few want to see libraries closed or already thin operating hours pared further. Yet that is what is happening here and across the state.

Nine county libraries were shuttered last year and 11 more are scheduled to close by year’s end. There have been purchase reductions of more than 50% in Los Angeles and Pasadena city libraries. Further, drastic cutbacks and closings are possible once Los Angeles adopts a new city budget. In Pasadena, all eight branch libraries are threatened with closure on Jan. 1.

That’s why bold steps are needed. Next Tuesday, Pasadena voters will be asked to vote on Proposition 1, a special city tax to keep their libraries open. They should pass it.

Some library users in Los Angeles are donating spare change and used periodicals to maintain threadbare collections. In an ongoing effort the Los Angeles Library Foundation has raised $2 million and begun a number of volunteer programs.

The growing excitement surrounding the planned reopening of Los Angeles’ Central Library, magnificently restored since the 1986 fire, should not obscure the desperate needs of the branch facilities throughout the county. Those sturdy, prosaic buildings are where children make good use of their summer vacation, immigrants learn about their new country and all of us can be entertained and dream.