Community News : THE PENINSULA : Libraries Struggling to Overcome Deficit

The Palos Verdes Library District is struggling to maintain regular operations despite an $896,000 drop in revenue this year.

The cutback, caused by 1992 state changes affecting local property taxes, has had a devastating effect on the peninsula’s three libraries, spokeswoman Nancy Mahr said.

Full- and part-time staff have been reduced from 92 to 61, and public hours at the three libraries have declined from 125 to 80 hours per week. Spending on materials has been cut $125,000.

The library district budget has lost $1.4 million over the past two years, Mahr said.

The independent special district gets no money from the city, Mahr said. “In a place like Torrance, (the library) can fall back on the city. The city can choose to make up the money.”

The Local Area Formation Commission, which oversees special districts, is looking into future funding for special districts, Mahr said.

“As a small special district, we are very concerned over which direction they will take. If, for example, we were consolidated with the L.A. County system, (we) wouldn’t be able to tailor materials purchases and services to this community’s needs,” she said.

The district system was devised in 1928 to meet the needs of people living on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Mahr said.

Some 57,000 people (10% from other South Bay cities) among a population of 67,500 have library cards.

She said the community was rallying to support the libraries with fund raising and volunteer help.