Opening a new chapter in local library services, the Carpinteria City Council has taken the next step toward gaining control of the city’s branch library, which currently is operated by the Santa Barbara Public Library System.
The council voted unanimously last week to approve entering into a consulting service agreement for assistance with moving the library to City of Carpinteria control. The council also approved a related budget allocation of $15,400 from its Measure X funding.
Carpinteria voters in 2018 approved Measure X, a 1.5-percent sales tax increase.
“We wouldn’t be in this position today if it weren’t for the passage of Measure X,” City Councilman Gregg Carty said during the Jan. 11 meeting.
“Agreed,” Mayor Wade Nomura responded.
November is the earliest that Carpinteria staff believes the city will have completed work sufficient to notify Santa Barbara of its transition intentions for the library at 5141 Carpinteria Ave. Autumn 2022 is the target date for completion of the project.
The City of Goleta went through a similar takeover process to create an independent branch in 2018 at 500 N. Fairview Ave.
The consultant used by Goleta has been hired for the task of initiating the Carpinteria Library transition.
“I feel confident that it’s a doable project,” consultant Dale Redfield said. “It’s a lot of moving parts, but I have already started doing some of the research and it’s doable.”
Redfield’s general proposal states that she will establish effective relationships and participate in meetings with stakeholders, plus prepare a submission for creating a new library zone defining the city’s library sphere of influence.
Her work also will include requesting design and initiation for a separate library website or add to the City of Carpinteria’s website, contact the Black Gold Library Cooperative System for guidance regarding items on a proposed work plan, participate in the selection process for library director, coordinate with the Friends of the Carpinteria Library and other volunteers to complete tasks of bar coding and tagging of library items, among several other duties to achieve a transition.
Gaby Edwards, chairwoman of Friends of the Carpinteria Library, said during real-time public comment that the organization’s board is “excited for this next transition process. We want to help in any way that we can.”
During its regular meeting in September, the council approved moving forward with actions to transfer Carpinteria Library services to operation by the city as an independent municipal library from operation by the City of Santa Barbara as a Santa Barbara County branch library, City Manager Dave Durflinger said.
He said city staff currently is exploring personnel needs and budget aspects.
“These are things we are looking at,” Durflinger said.
Back in September, council members indicated they also were open to considering taking on operation of the Montecito Library, at 1469 East Valley Road, through an agreement with the county, should that be desired.
Carpinteria staff is recommending that further consideration of the Montecito branch option wait until the Carpinteria library transition is completed, and after the city gains experience in understanding library expense and revenue.
An ad hoc library committee tasked with creating “a strategic plan and schedule for exploring alternative funding and delivery options for library services” formed in 2019, according to Carpinteria staff.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
