Opening the Books Could Aid Happy Ending in Bookstore Battle

Re “Library Boosters Not on the Same Page,” April 18:

I am saddened by the closure of our local Friends of the Library annex at the Dana Point library. For many of us, a trip to the annex has come to mean a special part of our week. It’s a place where we donate books to share with others, as well as find new adventures and knowledge through more books. We bring in our children and grandchildren to find that special gem. The 110 volunteers who donate their time at the bookstore are knowledgeable, cheerful and a great resource to our community. I hope the conflict is resolved quickly.

As I understand it, the Friends of the Library’s six-person board wishes to partner with several other local associations called CLAW (a lighthouse society, the museum, coastal arts and festival of whales). As partners, the current board of the Friends of the Library has commingled funds with these other associations. The 110 volunteers, as well as those of us patrons who specifically support the Friends of the Library, feel this is unjust and plain wrong. The money earned by the Friends of the Library needs to stay within the library. When I buy a book from the Friends, I expect that money to go to the library, not the historical society or anything else. When I buy an item from the museum, I expect that money to go the historical society.

Sandra Bernhagen

Dana Point

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I am writing to state my deep dismay and anger over the actions of a few volunteers which have caused the bookstore to be closed. I am a two-year volunteer at the bookstore. The actions of these part-time volunteers do not represent me, nor have I ever been invited to attend a meeting wherein any concerns regarding Friends expenditures have been aired. Instead, these few took a key from the library, unlocked and entered the bookstore before its scheduled opening time on April 7, and placed signs in the windows and door declaring that they “temporarily quit” because bookstore funds were not going to the library.

I was scheduled to work that day, and no one called me to advise me that the bookstore would not be opening.

The key to the bookstore was not returned to its designated place in the library, and neither the board nor any volunteer has been able to access the bookstore since to allow the store to serve its patrons or earn money in support of the library. Since I am married to a member of the board, I am quickly able to ask probing questions regarding actions taken relative to expenditures of bookstore, membership and donor proceeds. Unfortunately, and more sadly, most of the other volunteers and patrons have not taken the opportunity to do likewise.

So far, these dissidents have refused to meet with the board to discuss and resolve their so-called issues. Why? Good question. I urge all who care about reopening the bookstore and benefiting the Dana Point Library to get all of the facts, and then insist that this unwarranted walkout/lockout be ended .

Nancy Richter

Dana Point