County to Check Out Revised Library Plan

Delayed last month by union legal threats, a plan to radically reorganize Ventura County’s woebegone library system will return Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.

The plan, slightly revised from an earlier form, still would lay off 34 of the Library Services Agency’s 67 full-time employees--mostly those in management--and hire only 19 back in lower-paying jobs.

The money saved, at least $225,000, would allow the county to buy new books and equipment and keep the larger libraries in the 15-branch system open longer without exceeding the agency’s $5.8-million annual budget.

However, 15 of the 19 positions would be filled through seniority, leaving only four top management jobs up for grabs among current employees. That is a major change from the former proposal, which would have required all laid-off employees, regardless of experience, to compete for the smaller pool of new jobs.

“What will happen here is that the competition will result in the best people getting the management positions,” said Community Libraries Manager Alan Langville, who would be among those laid off April 19. “But the rest will be filled by seniority.”

The changes to the reorganization plan come as a result of criticism by union leader Barry Hammitt, who likened library workers to victims of a “hostile takeover” perpetrated by the seven cities where most of the county libraries are located.

Hammitt complained that the cuts to the library staff, which were strongly advocated by the cities, violated the county’s own personnel rules as well as the collective-bargaining agreement with the Service Employees International Union. The cuts were improper because they did not give laid-off veteran employees the inside track to the new positions and did not lay off all part-timers before full-timers, he said.

Hammitt, who vowed to sue if the plan was approved, could not be reached for comment Friday. But he said Thursday a lawsuit was still likely despite the revisions.

Supervisor Frank Schillo conceded the revised plan will result in longer lines and less efficient service at many libraries. But it is just a first step in the already lengthy campaign to overhaul the county library system, he said.

“For 2 1/2 years, I’ve been saying that we need to get to a place where we can start,” Schillo said. “That’s all this is. No one is saying this is going to rival the Thousand Oaks Library. This is just a beginning.”

In 1992, the Library Services Agency employed 133 people and had a budget of $11.1 million. But after the state Legislature approved a shift of property taxes to fund education that year, the agency’s fortunes have declined. Critics have complained that libraries employ too many managers, have outdated books and are not open enough.

Only Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Santa Paula have separate library systems. But as a result of the drastic decline in county library services, many of the other cities have threatened to pull out.

The county library overhaul is being overseen by an eight-member commission made up of a representative from each of the seven cities and Schillo. The commission would still have to approve the layoffs after the supervisors take action Tuesday.

“What staff has done is try to meet the goals of the reorganization within the union’s request--I don’t want to say demand,” said Supervisor Judy Mikels. “I would hope that one, we did satisfy all their concerns, and two, that they realize we will continue to work to strike a balance with them. That’s what they’re there for, to bring this stuff up.”