City Agrees to Give $108,000 to Libraries
The City Council has unanimously agreed to spend $108,000 to maintain library hours at two local branches.
Although the H.R. Wright and E.P. Foster libraries are not operated by the city of Ventura, officials said that county funding alone would not provide the level of service some city residents have come to expect.
The Ventura County Library Services Agency pays for 36 hours a week at the two branches. The city’s contribution will push the service level to 53 hours a week. The money will not provide any additional hours at the Ventura Avenue Library, which is funded only through June 30.
Recognizing that library services were threatened as a result of state and county budget cuts, the City Council decided to spend $108,000 last year to maintain library hours.
The council set aside the same amount of money for this year.
The council also agreed Monday to appoint an existing 16-member Library Task Force to an official advisory committee to the City Council, giving it formal recommendation powers.
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