In an effort to plan the future of the San Benito County Free
Library, the county held its first library vision meeting Tuesday
that set the stage for a broader campaign to determine what kind of
library locals want.
Hollister – In an effort to plan the future of the San Benito County Free Library, the county held its first library vision meeting Tuesday that set the stage for a broader campaign to determine what kind of library locals want.
Most agree that the cramped and aging county library located on Fourth Street is in need of improvements – or even replacement. About 15 people, ranging from city and county officials to library volunteers, were invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting, which was the starting point in what will become a community-wide discussion about if and how library improvements will be made, according to County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson.
“I think it went really well,” said Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, a member of the Board of Supervisors’ library subcommittee who also attended the meeting. “There is obviously interest in the community to push forward with modernizing the county library.”
A $600 million library construction and renovation bond that will be on the ballot for the state’s June election may provide funds for renovating or building a new library. But San Benito County won’t get a piece of the bond unless the county has a plan and a majority of the community is on board, De La Cruz said.
“The whole community has to put effort into it,” he said. “If there is no community participation then the library project will not go forward.”
Gauging the community’s support and desires for the library is the next step in the process, Thompson said. Community meetings, focus groups and questionnaires are all possible methods that might be used, she said.
De La Cruz said he would like to see a technologically-advanced library that promotes the arts and is the “centerpiece of the community.”
“Where kids can expand their minds in a safe environment,” he said. “Where seniors can mingle with the youth.”
That kind of library will require support from local businesses and government entities as well as residents, De La Cruz said.
Steve Kinsella, president of Gavilan College, and County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley have both said they are interested in exploring ways that their organizations can work toward an improved library in San Benito County. However, they also have said it is too early to tell how that might work.
As the county pushes forward with developing a library vision, some have argued that the county needs to hire a permanent librarian before it can develop a plan for the library’s future.
Though the librarian position has been filled by an interim librarian since becoming vacant in January, 2005, when long-time librarian Jo Wahdan retired, some library volunteers say that an interim is less likely to take on long-range projects and planning.
Thompson and De La Cruz have said that they think a firm plan for the library’s future will aid in attracting qualified librarians. Last year, an attempt to hire a new county librarian failed when a screening panel did not find any candidates with suitable experience for the job, according to Thompson.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
