Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Libraries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Merced County residents and civic groups press supervisors to keep libraries public
Summary
Dozens of residents and civic organizations urged the Merced County Board of Supervisors on March 25 to reject privatization and preserve public library services, citing community programs, lost access risks and concerns about a reported $600,000 annual savings claim.
An unnamed board member opened the March 25 meeting by denying plans to close or privatize county libraries and calling any prior discussions "preliminary." The statement acknowledged concerns sparked by a County Times article and included an apology for not informing a colleague earlier.
Residents and community leaders filled the chamber during public comment to press the board to keep libraries public. "A vibrant library system can be life changing," said a Friends of the Merced County Library member, urging that library stakeholders—including library administration, the library advisory commission and Friends groups—be included early in any evaluation. Susan Walsh, president of the League of Women Voters, said the county’s libraries are underfunded and criticized the idea that privatization could both cut $600,000 annually and improve services: "I do not know a household, a government agency, or a business that could lose that kind of money and enhance services."
Local educators and nonprofit leaders described libraries as essential civic space. "The library was a sanctuary for me," said Edgar Martinez of Treehouse Tutoring, recounting how library access helped him through school. Artist and community organizer Jazz D'Shane emphasized libraries as free public spaces for community arts programming and invited the board to attend a March 31 event in the Gracie Room.
Board members responded that the discussion to date had been exploratory. Supervisor Silvera said staff looked into options to determine whether outsourcing could produce efficiencies but promised the board would "do our homework" before acting. Supervisor McDaniel and others said they were told a potential savings figure of $500,000–$600,000 and that staff would verify numbers before any proposal proceeded. The board also rejected claims of Brown Act violations, saying any work had been preliminary and public discussions remain required before decisions.
The county indicated it will provide additional public updates: staff scheduled a status update on the Planada recovery program for the April 8 board meeting and reiterated that formal changes to library services have not been adopted. The board’s next formal steps on libraries were not scheduled at the March 25 meeting.
