Library takeover gets real

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

Any COLA library patrons who haven’t heard about the city takeover are about to get a rude shock:

A sign like this is now posted at all three County libraries in the SCV. It makes sense that they’ll stop doing intra-library transfers from other branches to our branches starting in March. With extensions you could check out material and not have to return it until June, which is close to July 1, or L-Day as it will come to be called. The County staff will likely be super busy for the next few months closing down shop and applying for transfers to other libraries or, sadly, looking for new jobs.

The sign isn’t very helpful; it doesn’t say that there will be new City/LSSI libraries in place of the old County ones, but given the way the Council and Staff ramrodded the outsourcing and privatization of our libraries through last summer, I have to say turnabout is fair play.

They should have left the Mayor’s phone number on the signs too.

Yet another unforeseen consequence of the City’s hasty and unpopular decision last year.

*ht to our anonymous photo taker. Thanks!

# Wisconsin

Comments (12)

WalkerFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:23 pm

That’s going to be annoying. Hmph.

Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:29 pm

This will hit a lot of people by complete surprise. Now we will find out how many people did not know this was happening or what it really means. But gee, we have “local control” and are going to save a ton of money, after the “start-up costs” are paid back, —assuming the City’s financial projections were correct, LSSI does not come back with its hand out asking for more money because of unforeseen “Additional Work” beyond the “Scope of Work” (so vaguely defined in both the RFP and the contract), and that pigs can fly. City apologists and attack dogs, do your thing…

Huh?February 23, 2011 at 8:53 pm

Why would this “hit a lot of people by complete surprise”? According to your posts, the Council acted against the wishes of the whole City. So which is it going to be? Everyone is angry….or nobody knows?

Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 24, 2011 at 9:08 am

There were four Council members for it, and City staff if they wanted to keep their jobs, people brought in to speak by LSSI, and three people speaking on August 24 on behalf of the resolution. Right! I forgot everyone within the City limits not in the Council Chambers that night not only knew about about, but supported it by not showing up. Does that fit your personal separate reality? Huh? And please, feel free to change the meaning of my words, if not the words themselves to fit your argument.

Timothy Myers SRFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:17 pm

Now those of us with a COLA library card will have to have our pickup place at the Castaic Branch. Should I send a bill to Laurie Ender for the incremental cost of mileage?

Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:42 pm

Don’t forget about that little bit of added pollution. But that is really inconsequential when you think how many more gallons of gas our local librarians will burn driving to their new job locations in La Crescenta, El Monte, or some other romantic location. I am sure they will enjoy the scenic drives. And we can all be thankful for Awesometown’s green green thinking.

CCFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:13 am

Maybe we can get the town trolley to cart people up there.

MGutzeitFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:12 pm

As a County (and City) taxpayer I support another library in Stevenson Ranch, ASAP. Just today I was thinking of something to order up from the massive county system (never found anything that they don’t have) and now I better do it quickly.

LarMccFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:55 pm

Everybody stop! This was all foreseen by the wise folks on the city council. Everyone will be fine with this. If LSSI needs more money, that’s OK because the city council saw this coming as well. And it will never cost us more money and we will get the same service. I read it in the Signal, after all. Plus, we are going to save money AND get a “cultural quiet room” via the new Newhall branch. Those that have sat back and paid zero attention to what goes on in our city are going to be in for a shock when they go to the library 7/1.

Saugus SplasherFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:01 pm

So the city should have “forseen” that the county would act in a vindictive manner and punish the loyal library patrons/taxpayers who paid for a full year of service but are being shafted. Even as they gracelessly exit, the county library continues to pick our pockets. You stay classy, Margaret Todd!! Yes, Jeff, hold the city accountable, but show some equity and also hold the county (our other local government) accountable.

Cheryl PhillipsFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm

The County is not acting in a vindictive manner nor is the County punishing library patrons.. Do the math – If an item from another branch of the County system is checked out on March 15th for 3 weeks, then can be renewed twice, we’re talking about it not being due till May 17, 2011. That leaves them less than 6 weeks to get ready for LSSI, to dismantle all their equipment and software, transfer the books from each of the libraries that will be kept in the County collection to their new home, work with the City on the sale of existing library collection books, furniture, technology, etc., deal with the transfers of all their existing employees and in general shut down a major operation in three different locations. They are just doing what has to be done to turn the libraries over to LSSI in June.

EricFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:13 am

Let’s not go getting our panties in a bunch. Keep this in perspective. Go to “Manage my Holds” and change pick up to Castaic. Or, based on today’s news, there may be a temp location set up in Stevenson Ranch. Since learning the library lends e-books, I picked up a Nook and am borrowing e-books…no worries about branch locations whatsoever. Given the state of affairs around the globe, if this is near the top of your “what’s troubling you” list…count your blessings! P.S. Since picking up the Nook, I obtained a library card from LA City. Between the LA City and LA County e-book collections, not sure if I will ever see the inside of our “cultural quiet room”.

WalkerFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:23 pm
That’s going to be annoying. Hmph.
Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:29 pm
This will hit a lot of people by complete surprise. Now we will find out how many people did not know this was happening or what it really means. But gee, we have “local control” and are going to save a ton of money, after the “start-up costs” are paid back, —assuming the City’s financial projections were correct, LSSI does not come back with its hand out asking for more money because of unforeseen “Additional Work” beyond the “Scope of Work” (so vaguely defined in both the RFP and the contract), and that pigs can fly. City apologists and attack dogs, do your thing…
Huh?February 23, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Why would this “hit a lot of people by complete surprise”? According to your posts, the Council acted against the wishes of the whole City. So which is it going to be? Everyone is angry….or nobody knows?
Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 24, 2011 at 9:08 am
There were four Council members for it, and City staff if they wanted to keep their jobs, people brought in to speak by LSSI, and three people speaking on August 24 on behalf of the resolution. Right! I forgot everyone within the City limits not in the Council Chambers that night not only knew about about, but supported it by not showing up. Does that fit your personal separate reality? Huh? And please, feel free to change the meaning of my words, if not the words themselves to fit your argument.
Timothy Myers SRFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:17 pm
Now those of us with a COLA library card will have to have our pickup place at the Castaic Branch. Should I send a bill to Laurie Ender for the incremental cost of mileage?
Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Don’t forget about that little bit of added pollution. But that is really inconsequential when you think how many more gallons of gas our local librarians will burn driving to their new job locations in La Crescenta, El Monte, or some other romantic location. I am sure they will enjoy the scenic drives. And we can all be thankful for Awesometown’s green green thinking.
CCFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:13 am
Maybe we can get the town trolley to cart people up there.
MGutzeitFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:12 pm
As a County (and City) taxpayer I support another library in Stevenson Ranch, ASAP. Just today I was thinking of something to order up from the massive county system (never found anything that they don’t have) and now I better do it quickly.
LarMccFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Everybody stop! This was all foreseen by the wise folks on the city council. Everyone will be fine with this. If LSSI needs more money, that’s OK because the city council saw this coming as well. And it will never cost us more money and we will get the same service. I read it in the Signal, after all. Plus, we are going to save money AND get a “cultural quiet room” via the new Newhall branch. Those that have sat back and paid zero attention to what goes on in our city are going to be in for a shock when they go to the library 7/1.
Saugus SplasherFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:01 pm
So the city should have “forseen” that the county would act in a vindictive manner and punish the loyal library patrons/taxpayers who paid for a full year of service but are being shafted. Even as they gracelessly exit, the county library continues to pick our pockets. You stay classy, Margaret Todd!! Yes, Jeff, hold the city accountable, but show some equity and also hold the county (our other local government) accountable.
Cheryl PhillipsFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm
The County is not acting in a vindictive manner nor is the County punishing library patrons.. Do the math – If an item from another branch of the County system is checked out on March 15th for 3 weeks, then can be renewed twice, we’re talking about it not being due till May 17, 2011. That leaves them less than 6 weeks to get ready for LSSI, to dismantle all their equipment and software, transfer the books from each of the libraries that will be kept in the County collection to their new home, work with the City on the sale of existing library collection books, furniture, technology, etc., deal with the transfers of all their existing employees and in general shut down a major operation in three different locations. They are just doing what has to be done to turn the libraries over to LSSI in June.
EricFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:13 am
Let’s not go getting our panties in a bunch. Keep this in perspective. Go to “Manage my Holds” and change pick up to Castaic. Or, based on today’s news, there may be a temp location set up in Stevenson Ranch. Since learning the library lends e-books, I picked up a Nook and am borrowing e-books…no worries about branch locations whatsoever. Given the state of affairs around the globe, if this is near the top of your “what’s troubling you” list…count your blessings! P.S. Since picking up the Nook, I obtained a library card from LA City. Between the LA City and LA County e-book collections, not sure if I will ever see the inside of our “cultural quiet room”.