Council Agrees to Subsidize Library

To ensure the service level at the Camarillo Library remains steady through next June, the City Council has again approved a contract to subsidize a portion of the library’s annual cost of staying open. The council voted late Wednesday to spend $60,000 to pay for 11 extra hours in the weekly schedule. The city had already included the money in its current budget.

Ventura County library officials, who have seen drastic budget cuts in recent years, said they can only afford to keep the Camarillo branch open 36 hours a week. But with the $60,000 contributed by the Camarillo City Council, the local library will continue to be open 47 hours each week.

Camarillo Library Manager Sandi Kaplan said the 11 extra hours each week actually cost about $65,000. But she was able to make up the difference by cutting back expenses in other areas.

City officials are worried that county officials will not be able to stave off more cuts in the Library Services Agency, which plans to close several smaller branches once funding runs out for those at the end of next month.

The Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the agreement with Camarillo on behalf of the library agency at its meeting Sept. 10. City officials have contributed a portion of the operating costs to the Camarillo Library for each of the past several years.