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During the two years of construction for the new Manhattan Beach Library, expected to begin in December, Los Angeles County will offer temporary library services.
The services, expected to cost $102,000, will include the children’s story time program, a full-time children’s librarian and 20 hours a week of a book mobile. The book mobile will allow patrons to reserve, checkout and return books, as well as browse a small collection of books and newspapers.
But residents have complained that the services to be offered while the $22 million library is being built are not enough.
“We could probably spare a little of that money, cut back on something and use some of that money to address having a library in town, which is what people have wanted,” said resident Esther Besbris.
The City Council, however, was reluctant to develop a temporary facility – which could cost up to $500,000, plus an additional $100,000 to $300,000 for staffing costs – when five full-service libraries exist in neighboring towns.
“None of the libraries around us exceed 4.2 miles from City Hall,” said Councilmember Richard Montgomery.
Instead, the Manhattan Beach City Council on Tuesday appropriated up to $25,000 of Measure R funds to increase Dial-A-Ride services so older adults can visit the Redondo Beach library.
“The additional stops are near places we’re already going,” said City Manager Dave Carmany.
When construction begins in December, Dial-A-Ride will add a Redondo Beach library stop to the 9 and 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. departures from City Hall, with pick-up times scheduled for 11:15 a.m., 2:15, 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. The city will also offer cab vouchers for those who want to leave at different times, according to a city staff report. Expansion will be considered depending on demand.
“We’re going to start with those and see if that is enough or too much,” Carmany said.
Children’s story time will be offered on the same schedule but instead be held in the Police and Fire conference room in the police station across the parking lot from the current library.
A children’s librarian will dedicate 40 hours a week developing interim programs, including book clubs, literary workshops and SAT/PSAT practice tests. It’s yet to be determined whether these programs will occur at the Lawndale library, the Police and Fire conference room, {pages} a bookstore or the Joslyn Center.
County Librarian Margaret Todd said the situation is really a trade-off. “The sacrifice we’ll have to make is that we won’t have great, perfect library services for about two years, but the reward is a fabulous building,” Todd said.
