A Kern County Grand Jury committee didn’t mince words when it released a report on the state of the library system in June.
In short, the report states the Kern County Library system is headed for extinction.
“An inspection of the Kern County Library (KCL) revealed a frightening truth: The continued ability of KCL to serve the residents of Kern County is in serious jeopardy,” the report states. “Management’s approach of ‘this is how we’ve always done it,’ does not allow for a vision for the future of KCL; past practices have generally led to greater costs and manpower requirements, without commensurate increases in services or utilization.
The committee inquired about the 2016-2017 operation and management of the library system prior to releasing its report on June 1. The report notes that KCL isn’t following national trends. The committee cited Wall Street Journal contributor John Christopher Farley’s argument that libraries need to become innovative so they don’t fall victim to the Internet Age.
“He believes librarians should help patrons’ access to digital technology. He also contends that librarians should not completely eliminate books,” the report states. “Libraries around the country are facing a decrease in usage and need to change with the times. This includes changing mission statements to include new technology and better use of the libraries’ space.”
In traditional Grand Jury format, the report goes through its process, including findings, recommendations, background and facts during its investigation of the 24-library system.
The Grand Jury committee report notes that 20 of the branches are open less than five days a week, and none on Sunday. The committee report also mentions that the performance of the system, which started in 1900 with the opening of Beale Memorial Library in Bakersfield, ranks at the bottom 10 percent of all libraries in California.
Ridgecrest Branch Library remains one of the few that operates five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday. The report states that the “Interim Library Director stated that the KCL has not developed any short-term, mid-term or long-term plans for the library’s future,” that it operates two bookmobiles used in various areas throughout the county, and that the KLS budget “letter of justification” utilizes much of the same language year over year. A letter of justification is a budget request submitted annually by departments to the County Administration Officer.
Findings
The committee also reported its findings, among them that KLC does not have a comprehensive marketing plan, that one employee is tasked with updating the main website and 24 social media outlets. Most libraries have limited hours, with 45 percent closed on Saturdays.
The report also mentions that the number of books checked out per year per capita is half what it was 10 years ago. About one book per year, per capita leaves the library, on average, across the system. With an annual budget of $7.59 million, that’s about $8 a book.
Ridgecrest Branch Library, not mentioned in the report, maintains an eight-hour schedule on the five days it is open (with the exception of closures on major holidays). The library is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The KCL budget in fiscal year 2015-16 showed a budget of $7.59 million, of which approximately $5.58 million was spent on staff salaries and benefits.
The report also notes that the actual cost of operating expenditures increases by 22 percent when the “Kern County General Services maintenance expenditures for all library buildings are included.” That amount was approximately $1.9 million for the entire system.
Among its recommendations, the committee recommended that the Kern County Board of Supervisors “should seriously consider options for the library’s management, such as modifying and updating the job description of the Director of Libraries, and the minimum qualifications required to manage a modern library system” and develop a comprehensive marketing plan for all 24 branches.
Other findings include the library system as a whole explore additional ways to utilize its branches, including acting as professional certification testing centers, resume writing training centers and offer general education testing and preparation courses. It recommended eliminating or rescheduling bookmobile service for the Kern River Valley and closing the Holloway-Gonzales branch in Bakersfield because it isn’t cost effective, or utilize that branch as a community center.
The report did not mention the support that individual libraries receive via several Friends of the Library nonprofit groups, additional support from volunteers or various community programs operated out of the library branches.
Overlooked items
The grand jury report isn’t the first time the Kern County Library system has fallen under public scrutiny. Recommendations have come before the board of supervisors over the last four years, including a proposal to either partly or fully privatize the system.
Last year, the board was faced with a decision of whether to outsource management of the library system to Maryland-based Library Systems & Services Inc., or consider a one-eighth of a center sales tax increase to fund the system. The sales tax would have brought in an estimated $15 million a year.
The sales tax went to the ballot as Measure F following a series of public forums and workshops held around the county, including Ridgecrest. The consensus among many residents was that they did not want to privatize a library system.
While the tax garnered 51.68 percent approval, as a special measure, it required two-thirds of voters to approve it. More than 48 percent voted no on the measure.
The report did not mention the support that individual libraries receive via several Friends of the Library nonprofit groups, additional support from volunteers or various community programs operated out of the library branches.
The Kern County Board of Supervisors has yet to approve a response to the grand jury report.
July 19, 2017
Ridgecrest Daily Independent
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