The Library Action Committee and Community Vision San Benito held their second community forum on the future of San Benito County libraries last week. The first forum was held last month at the San Benito County Free Library.
The forums focused on ways to improve the library system in San Benito County – both in finances and services.
The panel discussed possible ways to reinvigorate the library in the county, said Lois Locci, a member of the action committee.
“Clearly, the library is important,” she said. “Everyone needs to be aware of it.”
She said libraries are about technology as well and not just books.
“Times have changed,” she said.
Moderators on the evening’s panel included Judge Steven Sanders, resident Cathy Alameda, Supervisor Anthony Botelho and Free Lance Editorial Board member Marty Richman. The panel was moderated by resident Dave Wright.
“The county is in dire straits,” Locci said. “The money just isn’t there.”
Botelho suggested that one way to help fund the library at higher levels is an impact or developer fee for the facility.
“That is something (Supervisor) Muenzer and me and our ad hoc committee are working on,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s something we probably should have done in the past.”
He said that in terms of percentages or how much the impact fee might be, it was too early in the process for specifics.
“We just directed staff to work on that,” he said.
He said people who attended are very passionate about the library but he wanted to convey that the county budget does have limited resources.
“Adding resources is difficult to do,” he said.
