L.A. County May Shut 15 Libraries
Remaining branches to slash hours if budget cut is approved
Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 7/1/2003
Most of the libraries on the hit list have a circulation of under 200,000 and were selected based on their size and proximity to other libraries. They are Alondra, Charter Oak, Chet Holifield, East Rancho Dominguez, El Camino Real, George Nye Jr., Hollydale, Live Oak, Los Nietos, Newhall, Rivera, South Whittier, Victoria Park, Willowbrook, and Wiseburn. The proposal would also cut the remaining libraries' hours, some by as much as 23 hours a week, and eliminate the Las Virgenes bookmobile.
Newhall, which serves a lower income and primarily Latino community, will be particularly hard hit. With a 92,000-volume collection, the library offers storytimes three times a week and has regular visits from elementary schoolchildren. Nearly 200 kids have already signed up for the summer reading program.
"Most of the children in our area walk here for activities, most families don't drive," says Judith Hift, head librarian at the Newhall library. The closest library, the Valencia branch, is three to four miles away.
