Area librarians agree that recessionary periods create a greater demand for library services. It is ironic that this comes at a time when libraries are hurting from budget cuts. Arcadia and Monrovia have suffered most in this regard, cutting down on personnel and new book purchases and, in Arcadia's case, closing it's audio-visual department and reducing hours.
A new $340,000 computer system will be installed in the library. using Inlex software and Hewlet Packard hardware, the library will automate the card catalog and the circulation desk providing better control of the library's 150,000 books and 240 periodicals.
A reduction of 4 or 5 teachers in the Arcadia schools has been proposed as a means of cutting next year's budget. The district hopes to achieve this by attrition.
A new or improved public library could become a reality in the near future. The current library is bursting at the seams with increasing amounts of books, computer equipment and an increasing number of people using the 28-year-old library.
The City Council approved an application for $9 million in state funds to build a new library. If the state awards the funds and the council accepts them, the city would have to contribute $7 million toward the new library.
The City Council approved a recommendation to hire Glendale-based Charles Walton Associates to prepare a library building program. The proposal will cost between $50,000 and $55,000 and the new library will cost approximately $7 million.
The County of Los Angeles Public Library may close the Live Oak Library and 42 of the county's 87 libraries beginning in August due to budget cuts of roughly 50%.
The library has new equipment for people with special needs. The "Reading Edge" scans printed text, converts it and then reads it aloud for those who are blind or visually impaired. The library also has a color video magnification system.
The Arcadia City Council approved a $48.7 million budget Tuesday without the significant reductions many other cities are facing due to a downturn in the economy.
"Notes from the Library," a new monthly column in the Arcadia Tribune make its debut in the December 14 issue of the paper. Dennis Petticoffer will author the column.