‘The Building Will Not Stand Empty’

Money to buy books for the Platt Branch Library in West Hills, which is to open in the fall of 1994, was put into the library’s budget for this fiscal year--then removed.

Despite Los Angeles’ deep financial problems, the money will somehow be found to buy materials and staff the branch, a spokesman said.

“The building will not stand empty,” said Bob Reagan, the library public information director. “It would be intolerable to have that building stand unused one day more than construction would require.”

Officials might get the needed $450,000 in book money from the City Council, private donors, the budgets of other branch libraries or a combination of the three, he said.

Reagan said library officials will put staff for the Platt Branch into the city budget for next fiscal year, starting in July, 1994.

Platt is one of three new city libraries planned for the San Fernando Valley. Likely to open in 1995 are branches in North Hills and Porter Ranch.