BUENA PARK : New Trustee to Join Library District

As the newest member of the city library district’s board of trustees, Lucinda (Cindy) Alibrandi feels right at home.

“I’ve been a lifelong user of libraries,” Alibrandi said.

After trustees in April could not agree on a new appointee to fill the vacant position on the board, the task was given to 4th District Supervisor William G. Steiner.

Steiner recently announced Alibrandi as his appointment. She will be sworn in at Wednesday’s monthly meeting.

Alibrandi, 53, fills a vacancy left by Bill Hardin, who retired after 12 years of service.

The term ends in November, and Alibrandi said she plans to run for the elected post.

The dissension in recent months among board members was reflected in the split vote for Alibrandi. Trustees Robert Niccum and Patricia Ganer supported her, while Trustees Helen Bohen and Edward Erdtsieck favored candidate Carol Macera, a telephone operator.

Alibrandi said she hopes to bring some neutrality to the board.

“It does seem like there is conflict, and hopefully some of that will quiet down by just having another person who has not been involved in the conflict,” she said.

In selecting Alibrandi, Steiner took into consideration her history of community service and education credentials, library officials said.

Alibrandi is Cypress College’s director of human services, which offers certificates in alcohol and drug studies, eating disorders, family studies and services for victims of crime.

She holds a doctorate in psychology from UC Irvine. She previously was director of a master’s degree program in addictions studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Alibrandi, a resident of Buena Park since 1990, said she wanted to serve on the independent library district board because of her interest in how public agencies work and how tax dollars are used.

Since she is serving for the first time in public office, Alibrandi said she has a lot to learn. But with libraries facing dwindling revenue, Alibrandi said she is concerned about future cutbacks in service and library hours countywide.

One answer to the library’s budget constraints is to explore fund-raising activities, she said.

“We need to get more resources available so it can continue to serve at the level it currently serves,” Alibrandi said.