The Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) is a sponsor for a bill introduced by Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) that would give communities a voice on how their public libraries are run, the organization reported this week in a media release.
AB 438, would require cities or library districts to have a vote of the people before a decision to employ a private contractor to operate the city or district’s library.
“Residents not only contribute to the taxes that pay for library services, but also fundraise and volunteer thousands of hours each year so it is critical for the same community to be able to vote on how they are run,” said Marcos Vargas, executive director of CAUSE.
Public libraries provide services for all age groups and help with job searches, literacy training, youth programs and other internet service some youth could not access otherwise. Quality of these resources could be diminished by private companies that cities and districts have considered employing to run our public libraries.
Recently, some California city councils have chosen to privatize their libraries without a study or without community input. While AB 438 cannot command the city council to involve its own community with this important decision, it does require there to be a vote during a regularly scheduled election. That vote, by default is an opportunity for the public to be involved.
“Only patrons should profit from public libraries,” Vargas said.
Under current law, cities could privatize public libraries without public consent.
The Ventura Reader’s Book Group is also a co-sponsor of AB 438 citing the bill as a common sense compromise that doesn’t create an additional cost to the community.
“I am honored to be able to carry this piece of legislation because it intentionally brings the public into the conversation to protect an essential public service, our libraries,” said Assemblyman Das Williams. “I’ve spent many days during my youth in public libraries throughout the district I now represent.”
AB 438 has also recently earned support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
For more information, call Maricela Morales at 805.658.0810, ext. 203.
