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January 7, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

January 7, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • First City Council meeting of 2011 next week, on the agenda: Hiring an LA-area company to hang those banners from paseo bridges around town, amending the “on time performance” section of the contract with the City’s transit provider, Valencia industrial center median improvements and, last but not least, $93,000 to purchase a library software package called SirsiDynix, which will allow the City’s new library system to interact with something called the Inland Library Network. The City says the purchase is part of the original outsource/privatization plan with LSSI AGENDA
  • Unemployment rate nationwide falls to 9.4% as employers add 103,000 jobs in the month of December LA TIMES
  • SICK: LASD wants the public’s help in identifying at least four men who are thought to have sexually abused a disabled woman in a care facility KHTS
  • College of the Canyons’ winter session heavily impacted this year, with 2054 students enrolled in 88 classes and 700+ on wait lists. Just two years ago, the college had 150 more classes to offer students, but budget cutbacks have forced the college to eliminate nearly 2/3rds of those classes SIGNAL
  • Interesting article on the Villalobos pit bull rescue center in Agua Dulce, which, since we last wrote about it, has enjoyed much success with a new reality TV show, a fan base, and increased adoptions of pits. But the rescue -staffed by parolees and excons- is moving out of AD and to Tehachapi SIGNAL
  • IRS Agent who lived in the Santa Clarita Valley has plead guilty to filing fraudulent returns and fraudulent deductions. He faces 9 years in prison LAIST
  • The Facilities Foundation & Castaic High School – a long and largely unproductive relationship SIGNAL
  • CalPERS may be under investigation by the SEC for its investing behavior in the last several years, says the NY TIMES
  • Guy tries to steal cologne by hiding it in dog food, but gets caught SIGNAL
  • Buck McKeon accuses Obama administration of trying to “gut” the military after Pentagon announces it will try to trim its budget by $78 billion over the next several years WAPO
  • Maybe McKeon’s right? Whoa- the Chinese have a stealth fighter LA TIMES
  • Proxart blogger says he actually is thankful to be living in the suburbs, even though his heart is with the City and its art scene PROXART
  • Speaking of art, need something to do this weekend? Why not check out the SCV Film Festival in our newly renovated Old Town Newhall? Bring the fam, go there early and have a walk around downtown. “When you’ve got worries,
    All the noise and the hurry. Seems to help, I know, downtown” SIGNAL
  • Contrary to what Marsha McLean has said, the City’s takeover of the libraries does amount to privatization. In fact, the rapid takeover & outsourcing to LSSI is mentioned as one of the top privatization stories of 2010 by a privatization expert at the Reason Foundation, a libertarian-or-death think tank. BLOG

Comments

22 · as published
  1. Petz2January 7, 2011 at 7:39 am
    Speaking of this to do this weekend ! The Local Group Astronomy Club http://www.lgscv.org will host a Star Party at Vasquez Rocks from sunset until 11 pm tomorrow evening. The public is welcome to attend-Dress Warmly from the head to the toe. Nice transit of Io across the face of Jupiter to open up the evening. You may bring your own telecope/binoculars or sneak a peak through ours.
  2. john adamsJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:00 am
    So we added just over 100k jobs in December! WOW!!!! That means every shopping center in the US added 2-3 xmas jobs. Let see how Jan works out. (Then June- sept- dec 2012)
  3. 4eyedsueJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:11 am
    Re: Assault: According to another news source, sheriff’s detectives have had the computer drive with the video on it since last March. Nice to think that these pigs have continued to assault the disabled since then. California needs to to do better for it’s disabled population.
  4. BrianJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:13 am
    This is the type of failed concept which Sec. Gates cut yesterday. http://www.ask.com/wiki/Expeditionary_Fighting_Vehicle Perhaps Buck also agrees with the 65 Million Bonus General Dynamics received while this project was a known failure. Wise up Buck! People die when politicians accept money from defense lobbyists. But then he wouldn’t know what it’s like to serve in the military.
  5. Phil EllisJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:22 am
    Does the Commander-in-Chief know this?
  6. Bill ReynoldsJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:35 am
    I understand Michelle has not received that briefing…
  7. BrianJanuary 7, 2011 at 8:38 am
    Your opinion is that there is no waste in the defense budget, the same as McKeon?
  8. Phil EllisJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:55 am
    Not at all. Remember this is our government you are talking about. I believe that conservatives have been bemoaning waste in the defense budget for years.
  9. SFC PerezJanuary 7, 2011 at 12:32 pm
    Secretary Gates was brought in after Sec Rumsfeld left, thank you God, by President Bush. He instantly ruffled some feathers by eliminating certain projects which were overkill, no pun intended, but believes in taking money saved and putting it back into what actually wins wars, our Servicemen and Women. He is not popular with the defense industry but is very much so with those of us who serve under him. His recent comments this year echo what President Eisenhower stated when he was departing office, “”The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, opened a gusher of defense spending that nearly doubled the base budget over the last decade. . . Military spending on things large and small can and should expect closer, harsher scrutiny. The gusher has been turned off, and will stay off for a good period of time.”-Secretary Gates.
  10. Daddy Joe GJanuary 7, 2011 at 9:15 am
    The Inland Library Network is the Riverside libraries. http://www.inlandlib.org $93,000? Keep flushing money like this, better invest in a plunger.
  11. RemStarJanuary 7, 2011 at 12:31 pm
    According to librarytechnology.org, the Inland Library Network is a “consortium” of 3 county library systems, 3 city library systems, and 1 community college library that participate in a “shared automation system.” Here is some cut-and-paste from the city report: “The Inland Library Network (ILN) is a collaboration of seven independent library systems totaling 73 library branches; inclusive of the Santa Clarita Public Library, it would total eight independent library systems and 76 library branches. The independent library systems participating in ILN use the same library catalog database system and freely share library materials such as books, audiobooks, music CD’s, and DVD’s. By participating in ILN, the patrons of the Santa Clarita Public Library will be able to easily search online and order library materials from the collections of all eight library systems and 76 library branches. Library materials ordered by Santa Clarita Public Library patrons from other library systems participating in ILN will be available for pickup at our City libraries.” “The catalogs of ILN and the Los Angeles County Public Library each contain approximately one million unique titles. The ILN catalog has 1,068,000 million unique titles comprised of 858,000 book titles and 210,000 audio visual titles. The Los Angeles County Public Library has 978,000 unique titles comprised of 779,000 book titles and 199,000 audiovisual titles.” “By participating in ILN, the patrons of the Santa Clarita Public Library will maintain direct, ready access to a similar amount of library material titles as is currently available….” “Santa Clarita Public Library patrons will be able to order materials through the ILN catalog free of charge. Although many libraries charge for interlibrary borrowing, Santa Clarita Public Library patrons will not be charged for borrowing materials through ILN.” “Santa Clarita Public Library patrons will have direct online access to the robust collection of library materials in the ILN catalog, in addition to the holdings of our three library branches. The patrons of the Santa Clarita Public Library will be able to easily and freely search the ILN catalog and initiate the borrowing online of library materials located at any ILN member library. Upon arrival of requested materials in Santa Clarita, library patrons will receive automatic notification via email of the availability of the items for pickup and checkout. This is similar to how patrons of the Los Angeles County Public Library search for and order items within the catalog of the County Library. Library materials ordered from other independent library systems participating in ILN will be available for pickup in Santa Clarita within three to four days, if the item selected is not checked out by another patron. If the item is in use by another library patron, the request will be placed in the “hold queue,” and the patron will be notified by email when the item is available.” “Each independent library system participating in ILN retains full autonomy and control over the operations, hours, facilities, priorities, and policies of their individual libraries. As an independent municipal library, the Santa Clarita Public Library will increase the hours of the Canyon Country and Newhall Libraries by 20% and open both on Sundays, increase the annual budget for library materials by 22%, and build and maintain beautiful library facilities. As a participant in ILN, the Santa Clarita Public Library will provide patrons with access to an enormous catalog of library materials, while maintaining full local independence over the management of our libraries.” Wow! This is very exciting. Score this as one more crack forming in the ricketty case against leaving the LA County Library and forming our own city public library!!
  12. Cheryl PhillipsJanuary 7, 2011 at 10:57 pm
    ILN is a decent online catalog. My niece who lives in Palm Desert borrows up to 5 items a week from this system including books, DVDs and audiobooks and for the most part is very happy with the system. Since I presently have a Temecula Public Library card I can already access this system and have done so to take a tour. Membership in ILN will give us way more than just being a member of SCLC (So. California Library Consortium). Most of the 46 cities that are members of SCLC do not lend their AV holdings (DVDs, VHSs, music and audio CDs) nor their books with a copyright date within the past year. Of course as the City Agenda states, membership in these networks are not free and access will be pricey – over $93,000, and that is not a one time fee but an annual fee. This being said, I do recall a discussion a few months back on this blog about how “not green” it was for so many books to be trucked in to SCV from LA County libraries, and that hooking in with Ventura seemed “greener.” Well, being a part of ILN will definitely give us a minus for being green and for miles travelled to bring books to SC. Haven’t yet seen any info on how often the trucks will deliver to this area – once a week, two or three times a week, every day??? TBA. Here’s a sampling of what city libraries and county systems we will be accessing online and how far away they are from SCV: Banning Library District Beaumont Library District Colton Public Library Corona Public Library Hemet Public Library Inyo County Free Library Moreno Valley Public Library Murrieta Public Library Ontario City Library Palm Springs Public Library Palo Verde Valley District Library Rancho Cucamonga Public Library Rancho Mirage Public Library Riverside County Library System Riverside Public Library San Bernardino County Library San Bernardino Public Library Upland Public Library Victorville City Library These are the libraries in the Riverside County Library System: Anza Calimesa Canyon Lake Cathedral City Coachella Coachella Bookmobile Desert Hot Springs Eastvale El Cerrito Glen Avon Highgrove Home Gardens Idyllwild Indio La Quinta Lake Elsinore Lakeside Lake Tamarisk Mecca Mission Trail Norco Nuview Palm Desert Paloma Valley Perris Robidoux Romoland San Jacinto Sun City Temecula – Grace Mellman Temecula Public Library Thousand Palms Valle Vista Woodcrest Last but not least – I have searched online at the new LSSI Camarillo Library. They have 37 copies of books in the Twilight Series and 14 DVDs of the Twilight Series. I suppose this is a picture of what our new collections will have. Nowhere in the Specific Plan that was handed to us at the first library meeting was there any mention of “Collection Selection.” No opportunities to ask – What is LSSI’s formula for analysis of our existing collections? Will an entire new collection be bought rather than trying to re-barcode our existing books to change them from the County system? At what cost? What will be the staffing level of public service desks, and what will be the book budgets specifically for the adults and children’s books? We’ll see how it goes next week…………….maybe I’ll be surprised and we can actually discuss some of the important stuff outside of the LSSI box.
  13. Lori RivasJanuary 8, 2011 at 10:19 am
    This $93,000 annual fee — does that come out of what we pay LSSI, or is that a separate payment, from the City coffers?
  14. Cheryl PhillipsJanuary 8, 2011 at 10:45 am
    From the Agenda for 1-11-11 City Council meeting: RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council: “Authorize and direct the City Manager, and/or his designees, to take all actions necessary for the City of Santa Clarita to join the Southern California Library Cooperative. Authorize the City Manager to issue a purchase order and/or contract in an amount not to exceed $93,040 to SirsiDynix, Inc., for the purchase and installation of SirsiDynix Symphony integrated library system software required to participate in the Inland Library Network. Authorize a loan in the amount of $93,040 from the General Fund Capital Projects Reserve to the Public Library Fund (Fund 309) at an interest rate equal to the rate of return on investments of the City’s cash and investment portfolio and to be repaid at such time as is possible by Fund 309, and appropriate said amount within Fund 309.” This amount looks like it covers the purchase and installation of SirsiDynix Symphony integrated library system software required to participate in the Inland Library Network. That portion of the money would be one time with a maintenance cost yearly to keep the software updated. There is also a cost to be a member of SCLC and ILN that would be ongoing. Whether that comes out of LSSI’s piece of the pie or out of City coffers, I don’t know. Maybe Darren Hernandez could tell us.
  15. RemStarJanuary 8, 2011 at 1:52 pm
    More cut-and-paste from the city reports: “Library materials ordered from other independent library systems participating in ILN will be available for pickup in Santa Clarita within three to four days….” For a book to be ordered from the Palm Desert library today and picked up in Newhall 3 to 4 days later, there would have to be daily delivery between here and ILN. That’s excellent. “To participate in ILN, the Santa Clarita Public Library must operate on the same SirsiDynix Symphony library system used by ILN. The one-time cost to purchase and install the software for this system is $93,040. This amount was anticipated and included in the estimate of library start-up costs. The annual cost for maintaining the SirsiDynix system and for transporting library materials is included in the annual library administration contract with LSSI.” So, the $93,040 is not every year but one-time, and the annual maintenance charges are paid by LSSI and not an additional cost to the city.
  16. Lori RivasJanuary 8, 2011 at 2:20 pm
    If this was all planned from the beginning, then WHY didn’t the City respond to concerns over inter-library loans? WHY didn’t the City say, specifically, that our libraries will be part of ILN, and delivery dates will be within 3-4 days, and all delivery costs are already covered in the proposed budget, etc.? The Council and Darren Hernández certainly did not have these answers at the 8/24 meeting, nor at subsequent meetings, when the subject was repeatedly brought up. The Signal never reported that this subscription to ILN would address most, if not all, concerns over the loss of access to COLA books. The City’s complete lack of communication on this particular item has cost a lot of people a lot of time and energy. Phooey on either the City’s ignorance of the contract they signed, or phooey on their lack of communication with concerned constituents.
  17. RemStarJanuary 8, 2011 at 9:37 pm
    A few months ago I noticed the Inland Library Network in the LSSI Technical Proposal ( http://scvtalk.com/2010/09/30/lssi-santa-clarita-library-document-dump-and-more-comments/ ). Seriously, it’s right on page 1 of the cover letter. But it’s possible the city didn’t announce this sooner because the litigation was pending. Often, parties being sued clam up until the legal dust settles. Whatever the reason, this is a wonderful development.
  18. Lori RivasJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:40 pm
    Yeah, I am not buying that the City clammed up about ILN because of the lawsuits. Seriously, the City published and public stated a lot about the upcoming library system — why, of all things, of all concerns, did they not address the inter-library concern? How could the City avoid answering public questions about inter-library loans, questions which have been at the forefront since the beginning? It doesn’t make sense. I am feeling like a pawn in some larger game. Could no one in the City address me, and others concerned about inter-library loans, at all? So totally inconsiderate.
  19. Cheryl PhillipsJanuary 8, 2011 at 5:51 pm
    And the total annual costs for membership in the two consortiums – City paid or LSSI paid?
  20. ReaderMamaJanuary 7, 2011 at 1:37 pm
    Nine years in prison for cheating on your taxes seems excessive. We need to rethink prison sentences for people who are not a threat to others or society in general. Community service, restitution and probation would seem enough. I don’t think the taxpayers should have to support this guy for the rest of his life, which is basically what the outcome of this will be. He’s 51, so when he gets out he will be 60, and no one will hire him.
  21. Your Web GuruJanuary 7, 2011 at 2:15 pm
    The Feds don’t mess around when it comes to making examples of those who don’t want to pay the man. Hey, it took Al Capone off the streets!
  22. SFC PerezJanuary 7, 2011 at 10:36 pm
    Have him go apply for Papa John’s in Newhall because neither their manager or employees seem to be customer friendly. He should fit right in lol
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