July 10, 2012 Daily Brief- “It’s Hotter than &*$&*(# Edition”

By Timothy Myers SR. — Tim Myers

In case you were wondering whether it was July or not, temperatures roared up to 105 in the SCV yesterday for the first heat wave of the summer. SIGNAL Cooling centers open at local libraries. My personal cooling center is Newport Beach.
Was heat a factor? Half dozen or so Sheriff’s deputies intervene in a dispute between two motorists way out on Soledad Canyon Road. SIGNAL
Well they can avoid checkpoints but not the regular patrol, apparently. SIGNAL’s Jim Holt reports that DUI’s constitute one-third of arrests in SCV.
This is actually important. TimBen Boydston (“TBB”) picks up another paperweight this evening with an agenda item that would appoint five citizens to the local library trustee board instead of the current situation where the sitting council members also serve as the trustee board. (Service on multiple boards smacks of a Bell-like practice, where elected council members earned six figure incomes by serving on multiple boards and commissions.) SIGNAL Staff recommends against this change since the City Council could then only control the annual budget of the board and not any operational issues. (Someone should buy staff a dictionary so they can look up the term “independent.”) Originally it looked like the staff just forgot to constitute a trustee’s board when seizing the libraries, but now it looks a bit more cunning. Imagine the havoc an independent board could create, including firing LSSI, or even shutting down various library branches. At a minimum, a trustee appointed by TBB could mention “libraries” every other week which seems to be poison to incumbents.
We love Lori Rivas, but she pens a rather curious column in Democratic Voices. SIGNAL She talks about how the Newhall Library, which looks like an Apple flagship store, needs equal services to other branches in “nicer” neighborhoods. Like the Valencia branch, that will probably be shut down?
A lot of LTE’s. Boy Scout in River Village wants to know where his park is. (This letter fulfills a requirement for the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, by the way.) New twist on Newhall Memorial Haters. The landscaping is not properly maintained. Parade attendee liked the 4th of July parade but would like more bands, horses, patriotic music, and Marines please.

Comments (62)

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 1:30 AM PT

Good question on the park @ River Village… From the looks of it, I’d say its going here: http://goo.gl/maps/xQrY But you gotta recognize… Central Park is right in your backyard. Not too shabby, kid. But, good for him for putting together the LTE… and good luck as he chases down the Eagle. (Its been 18 years since I was awarded my Eagle, and I had damn near forgotten about the LTE requirement… I spoke @ a City Council meeting, IIRC). And, I agree… more bands in the parade please. Less fire trucks! (but keep the cool ones!)

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 1:46 AM PT

Let me speculate that the Boy Scout could have spent his time a bit better asking the developer where his park is. River Village is a gated community and eternal shame and damnation should reign down on any city official who approves a municipal park without public access.

Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 2:45 AM PT

Petz: Sending a letter to a developer does not fulfill the merit badge requirement.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 2:55 AM PT

So he could have picked a different topic….like adopting Model Lighting Ordinance to protect humans and wildlife living in the Santa Clara River.

CandescentPowerJuly 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM PT

I swear to God I’d like to sit outside your house with the world’s largest manufactured light every night and shine it at you.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 1:48 AM PT

There is nothing curious about a library needing a librarian. And I never said “equal” service — the paper picked the title, not me. My title was, “Newhall library lacks a professional staff.” I said Newhall should have a librarian, on site, for more hours than 16 hours/week, on a regular basis.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 1:58 AM PT

And, to clarify, my column is about the existing library, not the soon-to-open library.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 2:01 AM PT

Is my column really that vague, that the reader doesn’t understand I’m referring to the existing library? Or did you just skim it, Tim, with the title forming your opinion before reading the text?

Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:30 AM PT

Yes it is that vague – as if you had no understanding that the new one would open up in only a couple of months. Only one very slight reference to the new library at the tail end of your column with no acknwledgement that service levels might change. BTW, those “city” bus drivers are employed and managed by an outside company.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 5:54 AM PT

City bus drivers are licensed by the state, not by “proprietary training” from the company. Phil, are on record saying that it is okay that the Newhall library has only had 16 hours of guaranteed librarian hours for the last year? That its okay that the Newhall patrons have gone without full time and regular librarians, because they’ll get a bigger and better library in the fall? Would you apply that reasoning to the local schools? Would it be okay for Newhall Elementary to guarantee credentialed librarians for 25% of classes, and then staff the rest of the class time with paraprofessionals? Because there would be a bigger school down the road? Don’t think that platform would go far in being elected to the school board.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 5:55 AM PT

Guaranteed 16 hours/week, I meant to say –

Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 7:41 AM PT

Did I say that? BTW, we use credentialed teachers in the classroom. Not credentialed librarians. Also your analogy is ridiculous. Elementary schools are mandated by law. Sould we have libraries like Pomona? Perhaps you would prefer shorter hours so that a librarian could always be on duty.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 9:27 AM PT

Okay, I clearly need to spend more time proof reading my messages. Of course, I meant teachers, for the school analogy, not librarians. And credentialed public teachers are mandated for a reason — because there is value in their degree, just like there is value in the degree of a librarian. So, just as you wouldn’t justify hiring teachers without a degree, so we shouldn’t be justifying paraprofessionals with proprietary training serving in the capacity of librarians. That not only devalues the librarian degree, but also says that the library patrons don’t need anything better. What are you saying, if not that its okay for Newhall patrons to be without a librarian more than 16 hours/week, because they are getting a bigger library in the future? My column was not about future services – it was about the present and past lack of librarian services. There was no need for me to reference the new library, unless you think that the future, new library justifies paltry librarian service right now?

AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 9:57 AM PT

So maybe columnists should have a journalism degree in order to be acceptable professional columnists? We would not want standards lowered.

kellyJuly 10, 2012 at 1:51 AM PT

The Newhall Library looks like an Apple store?? Gee, I just don’t see it. The consensus in our house is a “Mammoth Ski Lodge”, and I keep expecting skiers and snowboarders to be clumping around in boots, carrying their gear.

Angelo CandelabraJuly 10, 2012 at 2:09 AM PT

Two years ago there was a lot of passion about the library issue based upon questions that were raised and fears that were stoked. Now, after a year of service it is abundantly clear to those of us who are regular library users (I patronize the Newhall library), it is clear that the city’s libraries are run very well and the hysteria was completely unwarranted. My experience with the Newhall library staff has always been satisfying and positive, including when I’ve thrown them a “reference curve ball” to test the new system. With all due respect to Mrs. Rivas, she needs to move on and let this issue go, in particular since her boycotting of the city libraries makes her continued fixation appear to be sour grapes. It is not healthy to have such an obsession for a service of which she has washed her hands.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 2:20 AM PT

So, you are defending the fact that Newhall library guarantees a librarian on site for only 16 hours/week? This is a good thing? Said the anonymous person who won’t publicly say that poor people are served *just fine* without a librarian, that super secret LSSI training is suitable to serve a population that doesn’t even complain about a lack of a librarian, anyway. Put your name on that endorsement. I dare you.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 2:26 AM PT

You will get better results with honey than vinegar. I thought that Pulskamp told you the city’s plan for library staffing when the new facility opens. Petz was there and he heard it. How do you figure that Newhall is underserved if the their schools have the highest test scores in the valley ? Between the library , community center, redevelopment etc aren’t we showing that we “care” enough for Newhall.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 3:44 AM PT

I tried the honey. All the documentation will be on the SaveSantaClaritaLibraries website soon, including the link to the June city council meeting to which you reference, Pulskamp’s email to me, further explaining the staffing plan, and an internal memo from the city, listing all the city librarians, and their primary assignments. I’m not hiding anything. And the library staffing is not Pulskamp’s “plan,” but rather the staffing assignments were all made by head librarian, Ed Kieczykowski. Would you like your child’s public school classes taught by uncredentialed teachers? Is this what we are saying — that Newhall library doesn’t need a regular, daily, librarian? Not even one?

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 3:53 AM PT

Honestly, Petz believes that too much emphasis is put on “academic credentials” in education. The best science teacher I know in this valley is Jim Mahon who loves the topic and is a pied piper to the youth. He does not hold a college degree Basically, we need a librarian who emphasizes customer service, and a love of learning. We certainly have that at the Valencia branch and I have no idea what their academic credentials are.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:08 AM PT

Drivers without a state license, RNs with an accredited education, social workers without MSW, engineers without a degree… I get what you are saying, that a degree is not the end-all to certifiying a qualified individual, but it is an exception, not the rule, to find a non-degreed, say, medical worker, who can deliver the same standard of care as one who went through an accredited course. The degree is there for a reason, a benchmark, a starting place, a guarantee of a certain body of knowledge. Do we just throw that out the window for proprietary training? How, then, does an uninformed public know that they are receiving competent care and service? The public doesn’t. The public doesn’t know what is missing, because we don’t have the education/background to judge. I have yet to hear one professional librarian, aside from those employed by LSSI, support this so-called “group management” style, and lack of librarian hours at a library. I’d be happy to read a professional opinion supporting such a thing.

Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:32 AM PT

I guess we could be like Pomona

SarahJuly 10, 2012 at 7:05 AM PT

You’re right Petz. Uncredentialed teachers might actually be able to teach people to write in first person instead of third person. And while we’re at it, I say why should anyone have a license to do anything? Why do realtors need a license to sell houses? Useless piece paper in my opinion.

DanaJuly 10, 2012 at 9:37 AM PT

As a Librarian with a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science, I do know that most medium-to-large city library systems do require the MLS degree to be hired as a librarian. Of course there are different support staff positions, such as Library Assistant, without the Masters. AT UCLA I had to go through two quarters just on Reference Services in order to graduate with the MLS, and there is alot behind what is called the “Reference Interview”. That said, there are more than a few lazy librarians out there who don’t conduct a proper interview and/or just point to an aisle and say “it’s over there”. There are also very knowledgeable, kind and helpful support staff without the MLS degree, but it certainly helps us to identify what the patron truly came into the library needs and how to find it, whether that be a book, magazine article, or a host of fairly complicated online databases at our disposal. From what I remember when I first looked at the job requirements for the Librarian position with LSSI, a Masters Degree was preferred but not required. I do know from word of mouth that there is at least one Librarian (not Library Assistant or Clerk) working for our Santa Clarita libraries without the Masters Degree required of most medium-to-large library systems in the United States.

JeffJuly 10, 2012 at 3:41 AM PT

“the hysteria was completely unwarranted” How many times do we need to repeat this? The outcome may have been great and even desired, but the process stunk and had no legitimacy. They ignored the massive opposition (which made the debate over Mayo expansion look tame by comparison), conceived, hatched, and all-but signed onto a deal with LSSI prior to council ever voting on it. They blew their financial estimates, saying at first they needed the special library tax then saying later (when they realized they couldn’t get that tax) that they were giving a tax cut to SCVers, they were blindsided by County vindictiveness at the Canyon Country library, and they all but mocked the opposition (I remember getting an email from one city staff member in February of 2011 who told me to “get over it.”) They also didn’t manage the messaging very well…lots of non-city residents were concerned and the details over inter-library loaning and networks were explained hastily and in an ad-hoc fashion. They had no counterpart to Margaret Todd-Donnellan, LACO Librarian…if you really loved books and treasured your local library, who were you going to trust, a real librarian or Darren Hernandez,a finance dude? Were they right to pursue the seizure & outsourcing of the libraries in order to properly staff the new library,which served as the principle anchor to their entire 15 year long effort to redevelop Newhall? Probably. But in democracy you don’t just get to make such large decisions without getting public buy-in. Sucks right? I mean, democracy is so inefficient! You’ve got to hold long meetings and stuff, do outreach & polling, share power with other people you don’t like and deal with crazy people whose weekly highlight is their turn at the dais in the Council chambers. Their motives and intentions may have been good but they didn’t care to have a legitimate public process, and now, as a result, they get to deal with TimBen Boydston on a daily basis.

tatonkaJuly 10, 2012 at 3:54 AM PT

Do you always feel the public needs to “Buy In” to an idea? And is “Buy In” a simple majority or just a substancial portion of the population? Compare the library with ….Oh hell, lets just use obamacare for an example. Was that the process you prefer?

spineflower2July 10, 2012 at 4:36 AM PT

Do you always feel the public needs to “Buy In” to an idea? And is “Buy In” a simple majority or just a substancial portion of the population? This sounds like the slippery slope that leads to EnderMath.

AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:02 AM PT

Wow, I actually agree with Spineflower!

Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 4:01 AM PT

Jeff: You are right that a price was paid. Laurie Ender is not longer a council member pretty much because of Ender Match, which was on broad display in the library takeover. The incumbents should take note that incumbents can actually be defeated.

Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 8:12 AM PT

One down, three to go….. saw that on a badge somewhere.

Don RickettsJuly 10, 2012 at 8:29 AM PT

I thought you believed that incumbents couldn’t be beat?!?!?!?!?!

Angelo CandelabraJuly 10, 2012 at 4:20 AM PT

Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, for we all know the history of the takeover. But is seems the only person harping about the libraries is a person who is boycotting the libraries. It has gone beyond a desire for openness and transparency; it has become a fixation and obsession with disparaging the libraries. Also, to me it seems odd to claim they are short changing Newhall when they’ve poured tens of millions into that area and are building a large library they said will have four librarians. Without defending the takeover or the approach, let me say that this latest complaint of Mrs. Rivas seems to be makeweight.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:30 AM PT

I’m not the only one complaining. I might be the only one making public complaints, but why might that be? Because when thousands of residents spoke out and did complain, they were largely dismissed, ignored, labeled and shamed. I assure you that I am not working alone. I might be a funnel for complaints, but there are many, many, many people who are unhappy with library services. BTW, no one was complaining about the county library service, yet the city saw fit to yank the carpet out from under the public. Are you saying that pouring thousands of dollars into the new library justifies more than a year of professional library staff at the current Newhall location? Put your name on that endorsement. Tell us how poor people should be thankful that they’re getting a bigger, better library, and that their children don’t need a professional librarian right now, even though there are *14* librarians assigned to the other 2 libraries.

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 6:16 AM PT

Lori, I love your enthusiasm, but lets be honest with everyone… “thousands” of people didn’t speak out on the issue… tens, maybe a stretch at hundreds of people did. And, no, signing a petition doesn’t carry a ton of water anymore. When we have online petitions with literally millions of “names” signed to them demanding that McDonalds bring back the McRib fulltime, I don’t think anyone takes a petition seriously. How many people signed petitions without a full understanding/comprehension of the issues, just to get the petitioner out of their face and to be on their way? (Answer: More than one.)

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 6:33 AM PT

Limiting to the July/August/September 2010 time frame, alone, I’ve read hundreds of emails to the city, 553 comment cards, nearly 50 people spoke against at the 8/24/10 meeting, plus the chambers were packed to overflowing with those opposed. That doesn’t count the 2,000-ish signatures gathered in front of the Valencia library in 2 weekends, nor the people opposed who spoke out on blogs, in the paper, in local groups, etc.

Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM PT

Lynne Plambeck overplayed that hand, when she claimed that 10,000 people had signed a petition, which was not even close to being correct. Loss of credibility is serious.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM PT

I’m not referencing the 10,000 signature petition. I am referencing documents I have, at home, right now, which I can show to anyone. I understand what you are saying about the 10,000 signature petition…I was involved in gathering *real* signatures for that, but not in the final tally of 10,000. Hindsight, it would have been better to make it clear that the signatures were not exclusively local residents, and that the signatures were gathered on-line. True enough, that clarification would have been the only way to make the presentation valid. I was not (knowingly) part of any deception.

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 7:26 AM PT

OK so the aggregate count you have is roughly 2600 people (if I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and count your petition… with no way of knowing how many of those people were citizens of SC vs County territory…). So your large-scaled protest accounts for 1% of the population of Santa Clarita. I wouldn’t necessarily call that an overwhelming show of support for the County.

ScottEJuly 10, 2012 at 8:24 AM PT

Careful Todd, you’re precipitously close to invoking the dreaded “Ender-Math.”

AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:04 AM PT

McRib…..mmmmmmm…

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM PT

And with that, you’re banned from the SCVTalk 2012 BBQ Summit Part Deux. OK… you’re reinstated.

AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:06 AM PT

I am more concerned about the closing of the Valencia Library. Not to mention it just has not been the same since the takeover.

LindaSJuly 10, 2012 at 9:33 AM PT

The new city libraries may not be perfect but to suggest that no one was complaining about the predecessor county system is just delusional. The County system was adequate but stagnant. The County was not going to invest in the branches out here with capital improvements or an increase in book budget or hours. Often there were staffing issues and a long wait to check out books.

LarMccJuly 10, 2012 at 5:05 AM PT

Well said Jeff. The library board thing is 100% lies, piled on top of more lies. The city maintained in the past that it was “common” for the city council to serve on or as the library board. My independent research of roughly 28 cities found ONE instance where ONE council person served on the library board. As I have stated before, the city needs to be straight with residents and stop the deception. It makes me wonder what we would find out if we got a truly independent library board that consisted of people that actually knew something about libraries.

Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:36 AM PT

Lori, yes people were complaining about the County. Especially as it kept cutting back on hours. Tim, how much do the Library Commisioners get paid?

Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 2:12 AM PT

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/raymond-ibrahim/muslim-brotherhood-destroy-the-pyramids/

Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 2:18 AM PT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2170985/The-suns-solar-flares-getting-stronger–latest-hot-spot-size-15-Earths-strung-together.html

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 4:25 AM PT

From the Boydston Campaign Web site “Give the Santa Clarita libraries back to the people by making them public again and not for profit. ” Sounds like he wants to take the “profits” and hand them over to the public employees.It is hard to see how establishing a citizens board of trustees accomplishes his campaign promise. That is unless Lori Rivas has been preselected for a position . “Give the libraries back to the people” sounds good rhetorically…but is not good policy. Petz does not even know what it means. He may wander on down to read the phone book for his three minutes and then watch the fireworks. That is, if they have the air conditioning on.

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:31 AM PT

I’ve not been asked, nor would I accept, a position on the library board of trustees. I am not a librarian, I’ve not run a library, and I could not commit the time, while I have young children at home.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 4:35 AM PT

Are you a credentialed teacher in California?

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:38 AM PT

Nope. Which is why I don’t teach in the public school system, nor would I apply for such a position, nor presume that I could teach anyone else’s children.

lstaedtlerJuly 10, 2012 at 4:31 AM PT

Tim: Disappointed in your brief and twisting facts to make a comparison to Bell which does not exist. In particular your saying, “Service on multiple boards smacks of a Bell-like practice, where elected council members earned six figure incomes by serving on multiple boards and commissions”. It is actually quite common for City Councils to serve on multiple boards. This is not Bell-like. Bell changed from a general law to charter city. Therefore rules that apply to general law cities, such as compensation to Council members, no longer apply. They were receiving thousands of dollars per board meeting they were attending. This is what part of the Bell scandal was. It was not that they were serving on multiple boards (which is common in many cities), but the pay they were receiving for it. I haven’t checked into it but I do not know if our Council even receives an amount for the library trustees. I am sure if it is an extreme amount, one of the many library watchdogs in the community would have already mentioned it.

Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 5:23 AM PT

You are correct in that the Bell strategy required three legs: Become a charter city, set up service on multiple boards, hold lots of meetings (some at the same time) to spin up meeting attendance fees. Take out one of these legs and the strategy fails. Having said that it is still fun to yell “Bell” in a crowded council chamber.

kellyJuly 10, 2012 at 5:29 AM PT

ha, ha, funny

Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:39 AM PT

And make up dubious claims (at least by innuendo) that our Councilmembers are accepting unmerited fees.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 6:36 AM PT

In regards to the fatal car accident today on Soledad Canyon, Petz has ALWAYS questioned the wisdom of planting trees in the center dividers.

BertaJuly 10, 2012 at 8:43 AM PT

Petz, those trees are the only thing standing in the way of these cars crossing into opposing traffic and slamming into someone head on driving on the other side so thank God for these trees which save the lives of innocent motorists.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 8:49 AM PT

Haven’t you ever heard of guard rails?

Dave PutnamJuly 10, 2012 at 10:26 AM PT

How about obeying the speed limit? This might help drivers to avoid losing control of the vehicle their driving and hitting trees planted in the center divider.

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 8:26 AM PT

On the traffic accident and/or road rage… the story doesn’t make sense. The deputy is quoted as saying it was a hit and run situation… but if its hit and run (where, typically, one party flees the scene) how were there two parties on-scene to engage in fisticuffs? Somehow the phrase “stop hitting yourself! stop hitting yourself!” comes to mind…

Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 11:22 AM PT

Alpiner, were the Signal a public service, funded by tax dollars, or carry the weight of the public’s safety, then I would say, “yes.” As it stands, the Signal meets none of these criteria. Plus, I would never call myself a journalist, and I am certain that someone with a MFA in writing would do a superior job than I, writing an opinion column. I was invited to write, without pay, and I enjoy doing it. Were I to entertain thoughts of turning “professional,” I would certainly need an MFA, plus a sizable portfolio. However, I am not without credential, as I have earned a BA in Spanish and Latin American history and literature.

PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 1:44 PM PT

Petz believes that Alan Ferdman should have been appointed to the parks commission tonight. It is a real head scratcher that he could not even get a second.

ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 1:30 AM PT
Good question on the park @ River Village… From the looks of it, I’d say its going here: http://goo.gl/maps/xQrY But you gotta recognize… Central Park is right in your backyard. Not too shabby, kid. But, good for him for putting together the LTE… and good luck as he chases down the Eagle. (Its been 18 years since I was awarded my Eagle, and I had damn near forgotten about the LTE requirement… I spoke @ a City Council meeting, IIRC). And, I agree… more bands in the parade please. Less fire trucks! (but keep the cool ones!)
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 1:46 AM PT
Let me speculate that the Boy Scout could have spent his time a bit better asking the developer where his park is. River Village is a gated community and eternal shame and damnation should reign down on any city official who approves a municipal park without public access.
Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 2:45 AM PT
Petz: Sending a letter to a developer does not fulfill the merit badge requirement.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 2:55 AM PT
So he could have picked a different topic….like adopting Model Lighting Ordinance to protect humans and wildlife living in the Santa Clara River.
CandescentPowerJuly 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM PT
I swear to God I’d like to sit outside your house with the world’s largest manufactured light every night and shine it at you.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 1:48 AM PT
There is nothing curious about a library needing a librarian. And I never said “equal” service — the paper picked the title, not me. My title was, “Newhall library lacks a professional staff.” I said Newhall should have a librarian, on site, for more hours than 16 hours/week, on a regular basis.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 1:58 AM PT
And, to clarify, my column is about the existing library, not the soon-to-open library.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 2:01 AM PT
Is my column really that vague, that the reader doesn’t understand I’m referring to the existing library? Or did you just skim it, Tim, with the title forming your opinion before reading the text?
Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:30 AM PT
Yes it is that vague – as if you had no understanding that the new one would open up in only a couple of months. Only one very slight reference to the new library at the tail end of your column with no acknwledgement that service levels might change. BTW, those “city” bus drivers are employed and managed by an outside company.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 5:54 AM PT
City bus drivers are licensed by the state, not by “proprietary training” from the company. Phil, are on record saying that it is okay that the Newhall library has only had 16 hours of guaranteed librarian hours for the last year? That its okay that the Newhall patrons have gone without full time and regular librarians, because they’ll get a bigger and better library in the fall? Would you apply that reasoning to the local schools? Would it be okay for Newhall Elementary to guarantee credentialed librarians for 25% of classes, and then staff the rest of the class time with paraprofessionals? Because there would be a bigger school down the road? Don’t think that platform would go far in being elected to the school board.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 5:55 AM PT
Guaranteed 16 hours/week, I meant to say –
Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 7:41 AM PT
Did I say that? BTW, we use credentialed teachers in the classroom. Not credentialed librarians. Also your analogy is ridiculous. Elementary schools are mandated by law. Sould we have libraries like Pomona? Perhaps you would prefer shorter hours so that a librarian could always be on duty.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 9:27 AM PT
Okay, I clearly need to spend more time proof reading my messages. Of course, I meant teachers, for the school analogy, not librarians. And credentialed public teachers are mandated for a reason — because there is value in their degree, just like there is value in the degree of a librarian. So, just as you wouldn’t justify hiring teachers without a degree, so we shouldn’t be justifying paraprofessionals with proprietary training serving in the capacity of librarians. That not only devalues the librarian degree, but also says that the library patrons don’t need anything better. What are you saying, if not that its okay for Newhall patrons to be without a librarian more than 16 hours/week, because they are getting a bigger library in the future? My column was not about future services – it was about the present and past lack of librarian services. There was no need for me to reference the new library, unless you think that the future, new library justifies paltry librarian service right now?
AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 9:57 AM PT
So maybe columnists should have a journalism degree in order to be acceptable professional columnists? We would not want standards lowered.
kellyJuly 10, 2012 at 1:51 AM PT
The Newhall Library looks like an Apple store?? Gee, I just don’t see it. The consensus in our house is a “Mammoth Ski Lodge”, and I keep expecting skiers and snowboarders to be clumping around in boots, carrying their gear.
Angelo CandelabraJuly 10, 2012 at 2:09 AM PT
Two years ago there was a lot of passion about the library issue based upon questions that were raised and fears that were stoked. Now, after a year of service it is abundantly clear to those of us who are regular library users (I patronize the Newhall library), it is clear that the city’s libraries are run very well and the hysteria was completely unwarranted. My experience with the Newhall library staff has always been satisfying and positive, including when I’ve thrown them a “reference curve ball” to test the new system. With all due respect to Mrs. Rivas, she needs to move on and let this issue go, in particular since her boycotting of the city libraries makes her continued fixation appear to be sour grapes. It is not healthy to have such an obsession for a service of which she has washed her hands.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 2:20 AM PT
So, you are defending the fact that Newhall library guarantees a librarian on site for only 16 hours/week? This is a good thing? Said the anonymous person who won’t publicly say that poor people are served *just fine* without a librarian, that super secret LSSI training is suitable to serve a population that doesn’t even complain about a lack of a librarian, anyway. Put your name on that endorsement. I dare you.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 2:26 AM PT
You will get better results with honey than vinegar. I thought that Pulskamp told you the city’s plan for library staffing when the new facility opens. Petz was there and he heard it. How do you figure that Newhall is underserved if the their schools have the highest test scores in the valley ? Between the library , community center, redevelopment etc aren’t we showing that we “care” enough for Newhall.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 3:44 AM PT
I tried the honey. All the documentation will be on the SaveSantaClaritaLibraries website soon, including the link to the June city council meeting to which you reference, Pulskamp’s email to me, further explaining the staffing plan, and an internal memo from the city, listing all the city librarians, and their primary assignments. I’m not hiding anything. And the library staffing is not Pulskamp’s “plan,” but rather the staffing assignments were all made by head librarian, Ed Kieczykowski. Would you like your child’s public school classes taught by uncredentialed teachers? Is this what we are saying — that Newhall library doesn’t need a regular, daily, librarian? Not even one?
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 3:53 AM PT
Honestly, Petz believes that too much emphasis is put on “academic credentials” in education. The best science teacher I know in this valley is Jim Mahon who loves the topic and is a pied piper to the youth. He does not hold a college degree Basically, we need a librarian who emphasizes customer service, and a love of learning. We certainly have that at the Valencia branch and I have no idea what their academic credentials are.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:08 AM PT
Drivers without a state license, RNs with an accredited education, social workers without MSW, engineers without a degree… I get what you are saying, that a degree is not the end-all to certifiying a qualified individual, but it is an exception, not the rule, to find a non-degreed, say, medical worker, who can deliver the same standard of care as one who went through an accredited course. The degree is there for a reason, a benchmark, a starting place, a guarantee of a certain body of knowledge. Do we just throw that out the window for proprietary training? How, then, does an uninformed public know that they are receiving competent care and service? The public doesn’t. The public doesn’t know what is missing, because we don’t have the education/background to judge. I have yet to hear one professional librarian, aside from those employed by LSSI, support this so-called “group management” style, and lack of librarian hours at a library. I’d be happy to read a professional opinion supporting such a thing.
Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:32 AM PT
I guess we could be like Pomona
SarahJuly 10, 2012 at 7:05 AM PT
You’re right Petz. Uncredentialed teachers might actually be able to teach people to write in first person instead of third person. And while we’re at it, I say why should anyone have a license to do anything? Why do realtors need a license to sell houses? Useless piece paper in my opinion.
DanaJuly 10, 2012 at 9:37 AM PT
As a Librarian with a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science, I do know that most medium-to-large city library systems do require the MLS degree to be hired as a librarian. Of course there are different support staff positions, such as Library Assistant, without the Masters. AT UCLA I had to go through two quarters just on Reference Services in order to graduate with the MLS, and there is alot behind what is called the “Reference Interview”. That said, there are more than a few lazy librarians out there who don’t conduct a proper interview and/or just point to an aisle and say “it’s over there”. There are also very knowledgeable, kind and helpful support staff without the MLS degree, but it certainly helps us to identify what the patron truly came into the library needs and how to find it, whether that be a book, magazine article, or a host of fairly complicated online databases at our disposal. From what I remember when I first looked at the job requirements for the Librarian position with LSSI, a Masters Degree was preferred but not required. I do know from word of mouth that there is at least one Librarian (not Library Assistant or Clerk) working for our Santa Clarita libraries without the Masters Degree required of most medium-to-large library systems in the United States.
JeffJuly 10, 2012 at 3:41 AM PT
“the hysteria was completely unwarranted” How many times do we need to repeat this? The outcome may have been great and even desired, but the process stunk and had no legitimacy. They ignored the massive opposition (which made the debate over Mayo expansion look tame by comparison), conceived, hatched, and all-but signed onto a deal with LSSI prior to council ever voting on it. They blew their financial estimates, saying at first they needed the special library tax then saying later (when they realized they couldn’t get that tax) that they were giving a tax cut to SCVers, they were blindsided by County vindictiveness at the Canyon Country library, and they all but mocked the opposition (I remember getting an email from one city staff member in February of 2011 who told me to “get over it.”) They also didn’t manage the messaging very well…lots of non-city residents were concerned and the details over inter-library loaning and networks were explained hastily and in an ad-hoc fashion. They had no counterpart to Margaret Todd-Donnellan, LACO Librarian…if you really loved books and treasured your local library, who were you going to trust, a real librarian or Darren Hernandez,a finance dude? Were they right to pursue the seizure & outsourcing of the libraries in order to properly staff the new library,which served as the principle anchor to their entire 15 year long effort to redevelop Newhall? Probably. But in democracy you don’t just get to make such large decisions without getting public buy-in. Sucks right? I mean, democracy is so inefficient! You’ve got to hold long meetings and stuff, do outreach & polling, share power with other people you don’t like and deal with crazy people whose weekly highlight is their turn at the dais in the Council chambers. Their motives and intentions may have been good but they didn’t care to have a legitimate public process, and now, as a result, they get to deal with TimBen Boydston on a daily basis.
tatonkaJuly 10, 2012 at 3:54 AM PT
Do you always feel the public needs to “Buy In” to an idea? And is “Buy In” a simple majority or just a substancial portion of the population? Compare the library with ….Oh hell, lets just use obamacare for an example. Was that the process you prefer?
spineflower2July 10, 2012 at 4:36 AM PT
Do you always feel the public needs to “Buy In” to an idea? And is “Buy In” a simple majority or just a substancial portion of the population? This sounds like the slippery slope that leads to EnderMath.
AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:02 AM PT
Wow, I actually agree with Spineflower!
Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 4:01 AM PT
Jeff: You are right that a price was paid. Laurie Ender is not longer a council member pretty much because of Ender Match, which was on broad display in the library takeover. The incumbents should take note that incumbents can actually be defeated.
Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 8:12 AM PT
One down, three to go….. saw that on a badge somewhere.
Don RickettsJuly 10, 2012 at 8:29 AM PT
I thought you believed that incumbents couldn’t be beat?!?!?!?!?!
Angelo CandelabraJuly 10, 2012 at 4:20 AM PT
Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, for we all know the history of the takeover. But is seems the only person harping about the libraries is a person who is boycotting the libraries. It has gone beyond a desire for openness and transparency; it has become a fixation and obsession with disparaging the libraries. Also, to me it seems odd to claim they are short changing Newhall when they’ve poured tens of millions into that area and are building a large library they said will have four librarians. Without defending the takeover or the approach, let me say that this latest complaint of Mrs. Rivas seems to be makeweight.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:30 AM PT
I’m not the only one complaining. I might be the only one making public complaints, but why might that be? Because when thousands of residents spoke out and did complain, they were largely dismissed, ignored, labeled and shamed. I assure you that I am not working alone. I might be a funnel for complaints, but there are many, many, many people who are unhappy with library services. BTW, no one was complaining about the county library service, yet the city saw fit to yank the carpet out from under the public. Are you saying that pouring thousands of dollars into the new library justifies more than a year of professional library staff at the current Newhall location? Put your name on that endorsement. Tell us how poor people should be thankful that they’re getting a bigger, better library, and that their children don’t need a professional librarian right now, even though there are *14* librarians assigned to the other 2 libraries.
ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 6:16 AM PT
Lori, I love your enthusiasm, but lets be honest with everyone… “thousands” of people didn’t speak out on the issue… tens, maybe a stretch at hundreds of people did. And, no, signing a petition doesn’t carry a ton of water anymore. When we have online petitions with literally millions of “names” signed to them demanding that McDonalds bring back the McRib fulltime, I don’t think anyone takes a petition seriously. How many people signed petitions without a full understanding/comprehension of the issues, just to get the petitioner out of their face and to be on their way? (Answer: More than one.)
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 6:33 AM PT
Limiting to the July/August/September 2010 time frame, alone, I’ve read hundreds of emails to the city, 553 comment cards, nearly 50 people spoke against at the 8/24/10 meeting, plus the chambers were packed to overflowing with those opposed. That doesn’t count the 2,000-ish signatures gathered in front of the Valencia library in 2 weekends, nor the people opposed who spoke out on blogs, in the paper, in local groups, etc.
Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM PT
Lynne Plambeck overplayed that hand, when she claimed that 10,000 people had signed a petition, which was not even close to being correct. Loss of credibility is serious.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 7:08 AM PT
I’m not referencing the 10,000 signature petition. I am referencing documents I have, at home, right now, which I can show to anyone. I understand what you are saying about the 10,000 signature petition…I was involved in gathering *real* signatures for that, but not in the final tally of 10,000. Hindsight, it would have been better to make it clear that the signatures were not exclusively local residents, and that the signatures were gathered on-line. True enough, that clarification would have been the only way to make the presentation valid. I was not (knowingly) part of any deception.
ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 7:26 AM PT
OK so the aggregate count you have is roughly 2600 people (if I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and count your petition… with no way of knowing how many of those people were citizens of SC vs County territory…). So your large-scaled protest accounts for 1% of the population of Santa Clarita. I wouldn’t necessarily call that an overwhelming show of support for the County.
ScottEJuly 10, 2012 at 8:24 AM PT
Careful Todd, you’re precipitously close to invoking the dreaded “Ender-Math.”
AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:04 AM PT
McRib…..mmmmmmm…
ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM PT
And with that, you’re banned from the SCVTalk 2012 BBQ Summit Part Deux. OK… you’re reinstated.
AlpinerJuly 10, 2012 at 10:06 AM PT
I am more concerned about the closing of the Valencia Library. Not to mention it just has not been the same since the takeover.
LindaSJuly 10, 2012 at 9:33 AM PT
The new city libraries may not be perfect but to suggest that no one was complaining about the predecessor county system is just delusional. The County system was adequate but stagnant. The County was not going to invest in the branches out here with capital improvements or an increase in book budget or hours. Often there were staffing issues and a long wait to check out books.
LarMccJuly 10, 2012 at 5:05 AM PT
Well said Jeff. The library board thing is 100% lies, piled on top of more lies. The city maintained in the past that it was “common” for the city council to serve on or as the library board. My independent research of roughly 28 cities found ONE instance where ONE council person served on the library board. As I have stated before, the city needs to be straight with residents and stop the deception. It makes me wonder what we would find out if we got a truly independent library board that consisted of people that actually knew something about libraries.
Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:36 AM PT
Lori, yes people were complaining about the County. Especially as it kept cutting back on hours. Tim, how much do the Library Commisioners get paid?
Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 2:12 AM PT
http://frontpagemag.com/2012/raymond-ibrahim/muslim-brotherhood-destroy-the-pyramids/
Bill ReynoldsJuly 10, 2012 at 2:18 AM PT
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2170985/The-suns-solar-flares-getting-stronger–latest-hot-spot-size-15-Earths-strung-together.html
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 4:25 AM PT
From the Boydston Campaign Web site “Give the Santa Clarita libraries back to the people by making them public again and not for profit. ” Sounds like he wants to take the “profits” and hand them over to the public employees.It is hard to see how establishing a citizens board of trustees accomplishes his campaign promise. That is unless Lori Rivas has been preselected for a position . “Give the libraries back to the people” sounds good rhetorically…but is not good policy. Petz does not even know what it means. He may wander on down to read the phone book for his three minutes and then watch the fireworks. That is, if they have the air conditioning on.
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:31 AM PT
I’ve not been asked, nor would I accept, a position on the library board of trustees. I am not a librarian, I’ve not run a library, and I could not commit the time, while I have young children at home.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 4:35 AM PT
Are you a credentialed teacher in California?
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 4:38 AM PT
Nope. Which is why I don’t teach in the public school system, nor would I apply for such a position, nor presume that I could teach anyone else’s children.
lstaedtlerJuly 10, 2012 at 4:31 AM PT
Tim: Disappointed in your brief and twisting facts to make a comparison to Bell which does not exist. In particular your saying, “Service on multiple boards smacks of a Bell-like practice, where elected council members earned six figure incomes by serving on multiple boards and commissions”. It is actually quite common for City Councils to serve on multiple boards. This is not Bell-like. Bell changed from a general law to charter city. Therefore rules that apply to general law cities, such as compensation to Council members, no longer apply. They were receiving thousands of dollars per board meeting they were attending. This is what part of the Bell scandal was. It was not that they were serving on multiple boards (which is common in many cities), but the pay they were receiving for it. I haven’t checked into it but I do not know if our Council even receives an amount for the library trustees. I am sure if it is an extreme amount, one of the many library watchdogs in the community would have already mentioned it.
Timothy Myers SRJuly 10, 2012 at 5:23 AM PT
You are correct in that the Bell strategy required three legs: Become a charter city, set up service on multiple boards, hold lots of meetings (some at the same time) to spin up meeting attendance fees. Take out one of these legs and the strategy fails. Having said that it is still fun to yell “Bell” in a crowded council chamber.
kellyJuly 10, 2012 at 5:29 AM PT
ha, ha, funny
Phil EllisJuly 10, 2012 at 5:39 AM PT
And make up dubious claims (at least by innuendo) that our Councilmembers are accepting unmerited fees.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 6:36 AM PT
In regards to the fatal car accident today on Soledad Canyon, Petz has ALWAYS questioned the wisdom of planting trees in the center dividers.
BertaJuly 10, 2012 at 8:43 AM PT
Petz, those trees are the only thing standing in the way of these cars crossing into opposing traffic and slamming into someone head on driving on the other side so thank God for these trees which save the lives of innocent motorists.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 8:49 AM PT
Haven’t you ever heard of guard rails?
Dave PutnamJuly 10, 2012 at 10:26 AM PT
How about obeying the speed limit? This might help drivers to avoid losing control of the vehicle their driving and hitting trees planted in the center divider.
ToddJuly 10, 2012 at 8:26 AM PT
On the traffic accident and/or road rage… the story doesn’t make sense. The deputy is quoted as saying it was a hit and run situation… but if its hit and run (where, typically, one party flees the scene) how were there two parties on-scene to engage in fisticuffs? Somehow the phrase “stop hitting yourself! stop hitting yourself!” comes to mind…
Lori RivasJuly 10, 2012 at 11:22 AM PT
Alpiner, were the Signal a public service, funded by tax dollars, or carry the weight of the public’s safety, then I would say, “yes.” As it stands, the Signal meets none of these criteria. Plus, I would never call myself a journalist, and I am certain that someone with a MFA in writing would do a superior job than I, writing an opinion column. I was invited to write, without pay, and I enjoy doing it. Were I to entertain thoughts of turning “professional,” I would certainly need an MFA, plus a sizable portfolio. However, I am not without credential, as I have earned a BA in Spanish and Latin American history and literature.
PetzJuly 10, 2012 at 1:44 PM PT
Petz believes that Alan Ferdman should have been appointed to the parks commission tonight. It is a real head scratcher that he could not even get a second.