$5-Million Windfall to Go to Libraries

The financially troubled Orange County library system was given a boost Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors approved $5 million in onetime funding to stock shelves with thousands of new books and magazines.

At the same time, board Chairman Thomas F. Riley called for the creation of a special library commission that would explore new funding sources for the network of 27 branch facilities still reeling from a 44% service reduction during last year’s round of budget cuts.

The new library funding is largely from money the county borrowed to make up for shortfalls created by delinquent property taxes.

Other departments benefiting from the total $8.1 million in available onetime funding are the county Flood Control District, which received $2.6 million Tuesday, and the county Harbors, Beaches and Parks Department with $500,000.

Libraries, however, were by far the hardest hit last year when the state shifted $2.6 billion in local property taxes to pay for public schools.

Although the new funds represent a sizable infusion for the library system and ensure that book collections will remain somewhat current, it still will not be enough to restore full-time operating hours.

Since July 1, officials have been forced to cut operations at most branches by two days each week.

In Mission Viejo, Councilwoman Sharon Cody said the shortened weeks have been a particular hardship. She pleaded with supervisors Tuesday to use the money to keep library doors open longer.

Cody said that her burgeoning South County community had long ago outgrown its 9,000-square-foot library.

“Why consider spending $4 million on magazine subscriptions when residents won’t have access to them anyway?” Cody said.

Library officials, however, said the most severe cuts--more critical than the reduction in hours--sliced new books and materials purchases by 75%. County Librarian John Adams said the money would be enough to keep most collections current for the next 18 months.

“To give you an idea,” he said, “in some branches, before today’s vote, our staff was having to decide whether to renew Science Magazine or Scientific American. Both are highly respected science journals, neither one of which you want to be without.”

As proposed, $4 million of the library funding will be spent on book purchases and to renew thousands of periodical subscriptions.

The balance will be used to buy new fax machines for all local branches; help pay for staffing of the new Rancho Santa Margarita branch scheduled for opening in September; and purchase a new roof for the University Park branch in Irvine.

Riley acknowledged that the money would only provide short-term relief for the library system. He asked that county staffers return to the board on March 1 with a “condition report” on the library system.