Libraries: County’s Support in Hermosa Beach
Although we may rejoice in the provisional reopening of the county library branch in Hermosa Beach to five-days-a-week service, Los Angeles County can no more be depended on to sustain this operation than was the case 16 months ago. It runs a high-cost library system while suffering from ever-escalating demands on its tax revenue. Hermosa Beach should continue to prepare for the day when it must choose between an independent library or little or no library service in town.
In that spirit, the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library, while celebrating the short-run reprieve, has been re-examining its gift-giving policy. Rather than providing materials which will circulate throughout the county library system, we have, since September, 1993, concentrated on gifts which will remain in and benefit our library: newspaper and magazine subscriptions, children’s programs and reference items.
The money raised by our quarterly book sales, such as the one coming up (Saturday), and the community’s support of our organization have enabled us to be very generous to the library. Looking ahead, we are steadily accumulating funds to be available as a “starter” for a new library. In that event, we will need even more backing from city residents and businesses.
TIM FERGUSON
CHARLOTTE MALONE
Hermosa Beach
Ferguson is vice president and Malone recording secretary of Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library.
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