BUENA PARK : Library to Continue Hours of Operation

There’s good news for visitors to the Buena Park Library: Hours the library is open won’t be cut.

Library Director Colleen McGregor announced at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting that projected cutbacks in state revenue won’t be as much, resulting in keeping the library open 66 hours a week.

“Now we can hire the part-time people to help us so we can stay open 66 hours,” McGregor said.

Trustees were scheduled to vote on reducing library hours to 54 hours a week as a cost-saving measure. The library has remained open 66 hours a week since 1982.

At last month’s board meeting, patrons objected to cutting back library hours.

The library will stay open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

McGregor said the library had expected to lose about $175,000 in property tax revenue this year. The library is one of two independent library districts in Orange County--the other is Placentia Library--in which 85% of its funding is from property taxes.

McGregor said revised figures from the state project the library to lose about $81,000. But she said the library won’t know the final figure until Sept. 15.

In July, trustees approved a $1.8-million tentative budget for 1993-94, which McGregor said does not include the anticipated loss in property taxes. Trustees are expected to adopt a final budget in the next couple of months, McGregor said.

Trustee President William Hardin said maintaining the status quo will keep people happy.

“I know it’s a good idea if we can keep 66 hours because that’s what the people wanted,” Hardin said. “I think it’s good we’re able to continue like we have in the past.”

Library visitor Vincent Rothaermel said he’s pleased the library won’t be reducing its hours. But Rothaermel said he’s still unhappy about other cuts in programs and services that have been made.

The cuts include not allowing book renewal by telephone and telephone requests to hold materials. Also, people are charged $15 to request materials from other libraries.

About half a dozen library visitors addressed the board. Some suggested that instead of cutting services to the public, salaries of top management should be trimmed.

In other board discussion, trustees voted to study the idea of consolidating the library, founded in 1919, with either the county system or the city.

McGregor said because of the continued cutbacks in money, the library should look at its options.

“Although we’ve liked our independence all these years, we have to be realistic about our funding source,” she said. “We’ve lost revenues for two consecutive years and there’s no reason to believe we won’t lose it again next year.”

Trustee Patricia Ganer agreed that the library should begin to look ahead.

“I think we need to start the process of looking at alternatives,” she said.