Double-Checking Library System Books : Cities Might Be Wise to Wait for County Study Before Branching Out on Their Own

When Sacramento legislators balanced the state budget by raiding county treasuries several years ago, Orange County’s library system was one of the casualties.

Libraries cut back hours; some branches closed three days a week. Librarians were unable to buy as many new books, magazines and supplies as they had hoped. The libraries suffered a double whammy at the time, facing the costs of installing computers to make it easier for patrons to track down material.

Now the county’s bankruptcy has worsened the library system’s problems. Mission Viejo has pulled out of the system in favor of running its own libraries; Irvine is likely to do the same; Costa Mesa is considering affiliating with Newport Beach, which has its own city libraries.

It is understandable that all cities in the county pinch pennies these days. After all, none escaped the bankruptcy unscathed. But there is a danger that the county could wind up with a two-tier library system, with affluent cities displaying state-of-the-art facilities and poorer cities making do with old, dog-eared books.

Mission Viejo, which has grown enormously in the past two decades and has outgrown its small library, is building a new one. It will be open to all county residents, as it should. But it is difficult to believe many people from Garden Grove, where two county branch libraries are open only two days a week, will drive to Mission Viejo on routine library expeditions.

The county’s chief librarian, John M. Adams, wisely has asked the Board of Supervisors to approve a four-month independent study so each city can see what it puts into the county library system and what benefits it gains. The study will also consider establishing a joint powers authority of cities and the county to keep the system operating.

The county library budget has shrunk from $27 million three years ago to the current $21 million. Nearly 100 jobs have been cut, nearly all through attrition. One bright note has been the response of volunteers, who could provide 100,000 hours of service this year if current trends continue. That has allowed some facilities to stay open longer.

Volunteers recognize the importance of libraries to all in the community, introducing youngsters to the joys of reading and reminding their parents of intellectual adventures.

Cities considering abandoning the county system should wait for the proposed study. It may show that economies of scale make the 73-year-old county system more cost-efficient than striking out on their own.