Attorney Named to Chair Library Panel

Sherman Oaks attorney Fred Gaines, who was appointed to the Los Angeles County Library Commission earlier this year by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, has been elected to a one-year term as chairman of that body.

“I’m very pleased Fred has been selected to chair the commission,” Yaroslavsky said in a written statement. “Coming so soon after his initial appointment, the panel’s recent action is an obvious testament to Fred’s motivation and dedication to help ensure that our regional library system remains one that we can all be very proud of.”

Gaines, 37, lives in Calabasas and has worked for the Sherman Oaks law firm of Reznik & Reznik since 1989. He was appointed to the 15-member commission in January by Yaroslavsky after working with the supervisor on recovery efforts in Sherman Oaks following the Northridge earthquake.

A native of Sherman Oaks, Gaines attended Grant High School in Van Nuys, UCLA, and Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley.

Reached at his office in Sherman Oaks, Gaines said his top priorities as chairman will be to secure stable funding for the library system and to introduce homework centers to as many of the 88 library branches as possible. Homework centers, now in about a dozen branches, utilize computers and specially trained library staff members to assist students with their homework projects.

Another goal, Gaines said, will be to maintain the trend toward computerization in the library system.

“Our Internet site has allowed us to expand services beyond our physical facilities, our hours of operation and our staffing,” Gaines said. “People can actually use the library from their homes.”

The county library panel is responsible for advising and making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the county librarian on library policy, administration, operation and service.