Library Begins 7-Day Schedule, Amazing Some

Patrons could walk into the Ojai Library on Friday and take out books.

That may not sound like a big deal, but it was the first visible sign of a parcel tax passed last March that has enabled the library to open its doors seven days a week instead of five and increase its hours of operation from 37 to 55 a week.

“We’ve had a few people who found out it was open who walked in the door and said they wanted to find out what it was like to be in the library on Friday and walked out,” library worker Richard Norton said.

Workers had to reassure one elderly man that the library actually was open and that he wasn’t trespassing, Norton said.

Once the amazement wears off, officials expect Ojai bibliophiles to return to the library in full force.

The novelty of the Friday opening meant library attendance was off about 25% compared to a normal day, Norton said.

“People are very grateful this is happening because the library is a very important part of the Ojai community--it’s a community center,” he said.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction to see efforts in concrete form.”

George Berg, campaign coordinator for the Ojai parcel tax campaign and now a spokesman for Save Our Libraries-Ventura County, was among those feeling that satisfaction.

“I feel a lot of pride in my community for making it happen,” he said.

Property owners are paying an extra $35 a year and renters an additional $25 a year for the improved service.

Ojai voters are the only county residents in the last year to have passed a parcel tax for libraries by the required two-thirds margin.

Similar measures failed in Camarillo, Piru, Ventura and unincorporated areas near Camarillo and Ojai.

“I hope the rest of Ventura County will see what we’ve done in Ojai as an example of what can be accomplished,” Berg said. “The difference between survival level and good library service can be as little as 10 cents a day.”