Bea Chute of Arcadia was among those who traveled to Sacramento as part of her role as Library Supporter Delegate to the White House Conference on Library and Information Services. "School libraries should be an Arcadia priority."
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.
Bea Wyant Chute of Arcadia was among 48 delegates from California to attend the 2nd White House Conference on Library and Information Services recently in Washington, D. C. "Making most of library network: delegate Chute says support is key to better education" by Shelia Thompson.
In an informal, long-range planning session, City Council members made a new library and police station two of their top priorities. Last month, the council approves spending $55,000 to hire a consultant, to be chosen at the June 19th meeting, to draw up plans for a new library to replace the overcrowded 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 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 gave preliminary approval Wednesday to an expansion of the Arcadia Public Library that may add 15,000 square feet of space at a cost of about $3.5 million.
James Domney, 49, is leaving his position as City Librarian after 11 years in this position and 18 years with the library. Kent Ross, 45, who started at the library at about the same time as Domney, was recently appointed as the new City Librarian.
City Council recently approved a five-year $34.6 million capital improvement program that will include some refurbishing of City Hall and library facilities, along with a new fire department and preparations for a new police facility.
The Arcadia Police Department's cadet program is profiled, including the stories of several cadets, especially 21-year-old Arcadia resident Sandra Schreiner.
William Howard "Bill" Lewis, 50, a longtime Arcadia resident and community leader, died Friday at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia following a heart attack.
The Arcadia Rotary Club awarded grants totaling $4,990 to 17 teachers at the February 13 Arcadia Board of Education meeting. Grants ranging from $175 to $300 were given to individual teachers to help with special classroom projects. The teachers represented 5 of the 6 Arcadia elementary schools, all 3 junior high schools and both Arcadia and Huntington high schools.