City Expected to OK New Library Panel

Girding itself for a new era in libraries, the Ventura City Council is set to dissolve the 119-year-old Library Advisory Board and replace it with a new, more focused Library Advisory Committee.

If formation of the Library Advisory Committee is approved, city staff members will begin looking for candidates.

The Ventura Library Advisory Board was established in 1878 when the Ventura Free Library was formed. After the city joined the county library system when it was launched in 1916, the board served as an advisory body to the county system.

The new Library Advisory Committee would advise the City Council on issues such as whether to drop out of the county system, the consolidation of library facilities (as recommended in a report by consultant Beverley Simmons), hours of service and long-term goals.

It would have five members, rather than the board’s seven, to bring it in line with the city’s other committees.

Some advisory board members applauded the move and said they would apply to serve on the new committee.

“Things have changed,” said board member George Tillquist, who would like to serve on the new committee. “We don’t know if the city will withdraw . . . or stay within the county system. If the city feels that by starting over again and appointing people they have more confidence in . . . that they will listen to [them], then that will be great.”

He added that the current board was instrumental in getting the city to acknowledge the need for a city contribution to local libraries.

Sally Weimer, who has served on the board for 18 years, supported the idea of forming a new committee.

“I think we were very effective,” she said. “But I think it is helpful to look at things, and think of what the goals are.”