O.C. Librarian Proposes Closing 6 Branches to Save Rest : Budget: Supervisors tentatively approve plan allowing increased hours at remaining 22 libraries. Final vote will come after review by League of Cities and Education Department.

Continuing its cost-cutting mission in the wake of the bankruptcy, the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday tentatively approved a plan that would close six county libraries.

However, library officials told supervisors the plan also would enable the county’s 22 remaining libraries to increase operation from the current four or five days a week to six days.

Under the plan, even with increased hours, the Orange County Public Library system will cut more than $3 million from its $23 million budget. In 1993, the system had a $27-million budget.

County Librarian John M. Adams said he intends to close six branches in June: Seal Beach-Leisure World, Silverado in Silverado Canyon, La Palma, Villa Park, West Garden Grove and Garden Grove-Chapman.

Supervisors will take a final vote on the plan May 9 after it is reviewed by the Orange County Department of Education and the Orange County League of Cities.

Library officials selected the six libraries by considering such factors as the number of patrons who use each facility, how many books are checked out and the proximity of each branch to neighboring libraries. The six targeted libraries serve about 8% of the system’s patrons.

“We feel that the plan that we have proposed will improve library service for 92% of users,” Adams said. “It’s a tragedy that any libraries have to close. But the reality facing us forced these hard decisions.”

Some city officials reacted with dismay to the closure plan, especially leaders from Garden Grove, which would lose two of its three library branches.

“For Garden Grove to bear the burden of one-third of the library closures is punitive and unfair,” said Garden Grove City Councilman Mark Leyes, adding that the plan would leave the west side of his city without any libraries.

“There are children and seniors in these neighborhoods using these libraries,” he said. “They are important resources.”

Adams said library officials considered keeping all branches open and cutting costs by further reducing operating hours at libraries around the county. But they eventually rejected the idea, saying it would render the entire system ineffective.

In a round of budget cuts two years ago, most county libraries reduced operations from six days a week to five days at three regional libraries and four days at all other branches. The move angered both library patrons and city officials, who said the hours were confusing and restrictive.

The system was hit hard by 1993 changes in state law that reduced its tax revenue by 33%. Before the bankruptcy, the county had subsidized the libraries for a portion of that loss. Now, Adams said, the system must be self-sufficient.

Some city leaders said they were happy that hours at the surviving branches will be restored.

“The library hours have been a critical issue for us,” said Laguna Niguel City Councilwoman Patricia C. Bates. “We are a growing community. Our library is well attended.”

Still, other officials are bitter that their communities were selected for cutbacks.

Leyes suggested that the county purposely targeted Garden Grove because the City Council didn’t invest in the county’s collapsed pool and has opposed the proposed half-cent sales tax increase as part of a final recovery plan.

“I think it’s intentional,” Leyes said. “I think it was an act of retribution from county (officials) because they resent the fact that (city leaders) bragged about not investing in the bankrupt pool.”

In Seal Beach, city officials are working with the county to consider ways of keeping the Seal Beach-Leisure World branch open. The branch is just outside the Leisure World retirement community.

If the branch closes, city officials said, some of the branch’s elderly patrons would have difficulty traveling to other libraries.

Seal Beach Mayor George Brown has suggested that the Leisure World branch be transformed into a private library, perhaps run by Leisure World. But Brown said it is too early to tell whether the idea is feasible.

Villa Park and Silverado Canyon officials are also considering ways of using volunteers and private donations to keep their libraries open. Silverado Canyon residents would have to travel six miles to the nearest library if their branch is closed.

Officials from La Palma and other cities served by county libraries have expressed interest in creating a joint powers authority that would take control of all branches in the system.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Closing the Books

The county has proposed closing six of its 28 public libraries. These branches serve about 8% of the system’s patrons. The targeted branches, the nearest alternative and distance to it:

* Seal Beach--Leisure World

Nearest branch: Los Alamitos-Rossmoor

Distance: 1.4 miles

* Garden Grove--Chapman

Nearest branch: Stanton

Distance: 2.3 miles

* West Garden Grove

Nearest branch: Cypress

Distance: 2.8 miles

* La Palma

Nearest branch: Cypress

Distance: 1.8 miles

* Villa Park

Nearest branch: Taft

Distance: 1.6 miles

* Silverado

Nearest branch: Rancho Santa Margarita

Distance: About 6 miles

Source: Orange County Public Library

Researched by SHELBY GRAD / For The Times