TUSTIN : Study Prompted by Cut in Library Hours

City officials, responding to complaints from residents about the limited hours at the local library, will seek the help of a consultant to find out exactly how the city could help.

“We’ll get the facts on the table and see what are our options,” said City Manager William A. Huston. “We have no preconceived ideas.”

Huston said that he is not ruling out separation from the county library system if the consultant comes back with that recommendation. The consultant will be hired in the next two to three months, he said.

A $9-million decrease in state funding has forced the 27 branches in the Orange County library system to cut the number of hours they are open. The Tustin branch at the Civic Center is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but for no more than eight hours.

Cheryl Pruett, the county library community relations coordinator, said the number of days libraries are open vary. But all are closed at least twice a week.

She said a task force is looking at the county library situation and will make a report to the county Board of Supervisors probably by summer.

Huston said that City Council members are considering whether to build a new library or renovate the existing one, possibly with help from the Tustin Unified School District.

Supt. David Andrews said that discussions with city officials on how the school district could help have been going on since last year. He said the school district could provide materials and volunteers and assist in maintenance.

Andrews said that one idea to consider is to build a new library inside the Tustin High School campus, and then allow the school district to move its offices to the old library building.

The school district’s administration building on C Street has been declared a surplus property and may be sold or leased, Andrews said.

“It will be beneficial to everybody,” said Andrews, adding though that he has not presented the proposal yet to county and city officials.