Bare Shelves

I have been disappointed in the lack of urgency felt by most of the cities about the deterioration of our county library services. It seems that many want to continue applying Band-Aid measures. They want only to keep library doors open without added funds and without concern about the quality of the services and materials that can be supplied under present conditions.

For a library that has seen its funding cut almost in half over the past two years and its staff cut from 133 to 77, it’s insulting to hear from Simi Mayor Greg Stratton that they should learn to face downsizing as businesses have had to do and that they can somehow do better with less if they try.

They have tried valiantly to keep providing services in spite of the huge cuts they have suffered. But you can only starve a collection for so long before finding severe gaps in information provision for the public. It’s short-sighted, too, to provide a collection at public expense and neglect to provide knowledgeable staff who can assist the public in finding their way to the information they need. And most of the public does need this help.

Use of volunteers is always mentioned, but I don’t know if the public realizes that the library has a staff of 77 and more than 1,000 volunteers now. Consolidation into fewer and better libraries would save money, but the public and politicians strenuously resist this option if it affects the branch near them.

If we want good libraries, we must find a sustained, dependable, and dedicated revenue source. Ventura, at least, and maybe Ojai and Camarillo, are facing up to the fact that you get what you pay for in library services and that the county alone is not going to be able to provide the type of public libraries that Ventura County residents deserve. I hope Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo and their residents will set an example for responsible public funding for the future.

CATHERINE J. PENPRASE

Port Hueneme