SAN FERNANDO : Patrons to Appeal for More Library Funds

As a 17-year patron of the county library in San Fernando, Juanita Garcia feels compelled to wage a last-ditch effort to keep the facility from suffering the loss of two librarians and deep cuts in services.

This is the place, after all, where she had access to books that she could not afford to buy and where she and her three children have spent countless hours doing research for school reports.

Garcia and other family members will be among a number of patrons who appeal to the Board of Supervisors at a July 13 budget hearing for more funding for the county library system.

“This causes me much sadness,” said Garcia, a children’s aide and Mission College student who visits the library at least four days a week. “It’s such a shame to lose these services.”

The county library system, facing a $29.4-million budget cut as a result of the state shifting more than $2 billion from county governments to schools, will have to close 50 of 87 libraries and lay off more than 800 employees, said Sue Cowen, a county library spokeswoman.

In San Fernando, the 50% cutback means that the library will lose its children’s and reference librarians, effectively shutting down all children’s reading programs, classroom visits and reference services. In addition, no new materials could be purchased and library hours would be cut in half to 20 hours a week.

“I’m finding it really hard to grasp unless the Board of Supervisors bail us out with a few million dollars,” said Judith Babka, San Fernando’s library manager.

Library officials are urging support of legislation sponsored by state Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) that would allow libraries to levy local property taxes as a way out of the budget crunch.

If no extra funding comes through, Babka believes that the cutbacks will affect children and young adults the most. They make up 48% of the library’s 22,000 registered borrowers. “We won’t be able to service children anymore. Where are they going to go after school?”

A San Fernando High school student, Marco Correa, is not sure how he will cope with the reduced hours and services. The 17-year-old has visited the library nearly every day for six years.

“I have school five days a week. If I have work to do, I’ll be in big trouble,” said Correa, who plans on attending the hearing.