At a meeting Monday night of the Joint Powers Board of the city-county library system, the panel voted unanimously to postpone a vote on closing libraries until more information could be collected. Prior to the vote, the board was divided over whether to shut down local branches in order to cover a $6 million deficit. They also noted that they were responding to extensive community opposition to the proposed closures. Of the 42 speakers at last night’s public meeting, only two board members supported closing branches: the author of the proposal and an employee who faces salary cuts or even potential job loss. Most library employees favor closing some branches.
Under the agreement, the board will study four different models that have been proposed to cover the deficit, with the anticipation that the final proposal will combine elements of each. It is most likely that hours will be further reduced, and some of the branches may be asked to specialize by focusing on popular topics like genealogy or technology. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
