Battered Library System Could Vote Next Week to Shutter Branches

Library supporters embraced two different visions for the county system on Monday—one that keeps all 10 branches open as community gathering places, and another that shutters four branches to deal with ongoing economic strife and make way for new books and technology.

The comments came at a study session of the Santa Cruz Libraries Joint Powers Board on Monday, one week before its nine members decide how to prioritize the limited funds at hand and possibly close branches as they plan for the long-term future. The group oversees all Santa Cruz County libraries except those in Watsonville.

The branches proposed to be closed are those in La Selva Beach and Felton, and Santa Cruz’s Branciforte and Garfield branches.

“We arrange our weekly schedule around our trip to the Felton library,” said Tandy Beal of Felton, one of many advocating for keeping the small San Lorenzo Valley branch open. Going to the library “is absolutely one of the only neighborly things,” Beal said.

But others, especially library staff, pushed for more technology and resources that they said patrons want but the system can’t afford to offer without closing the smallest branches.

“We need to get past the point of thinking that the only way to save libraries is to maintain many branches,” said Richard Eberle, circulation division supervisor for the library system. “Get past defining success or failure by the number of libraries in the system. Libraries are quickly moving beyond buildings with books.”

Monday’s meeting was the result of about eight months of study by an appointed committee after the library board has grappled with crippling budget cuts over the past two years. The budget is expected to drop nearly $2 million this year from 2008, to about $10.5 million.

Of four alternatives proposed, two would require closing branches. Of the two alternatives favored, however, one would keep all branches open while the other would close branches in La Selva Beach, Felton and Santa Cruz’s Branciforte and Garfield branches, in exchange for better technology and services at remaining libraries.

Capitola's library, which has been mentioned before as one to close, was spared from the list.

The argument was not a new one for the board, and Monday’s meeting was not marked for a decision.

Still, the board’s split was obvious as the members shared their impressions of the evening.

“If we close libraries, we will never again have a successful tax measure to support libraries in this community,” said county Supervisor Ellen Pirie, whose district includes the La Selva Beach branch. Measure R, which passed in 2008, continued an existing quarter-cent sales tax in perpetuity to fund libraries. The money pays for about half of the library budget.

But board member Jim Reed,a Scotts Valley resident and city councilman, wondered if the board could live up to the responsibilities of Measure R anyway.

"I don’t think it’s the job of the taxes, I don’t think it’s the job of this board, to provide community centers,” Reed said. He noted that the measure also promised extensive new books and programs for youth, neither of which have been delivered.