FLF Statement Regarding Cuts to the Felton Branch

In light of the dire budgetary issues facing all levels of government, FLF is focusing on retaining community branches in the Santa Cruz Public Library system. Members of Felton Library Friends attended recent meetings of the Library Joint Powers Board, and spoke forcefully against the closing of community branches. Once the library system budget improves, we will advocate for restoring some hours to the Felton branch, which has sustained the most severe cuts in the system. When the economy turns around, FLF will continue its mission of supporting a new branch building in Felton, plans for which have already been completed.

Although the Library Joint Powers Board voted to retain minimal service at all neighborhood branches, there have been proposals that library service be centralized in four large regional branch libraries, with Scotts Valley being the closest to the San Lorenzo Valley. FLF supports retaining service at community branch libraries, close to children, schools, families, and residential neighborhoods. Community branches best support literacy, equal access for all County residents, and the cultivation of lifelong learning in our communities.

FLF maintains that any proposal to move to a regional library system would be counter to Measures B and R, in which voters authorized a 1⁄4 cent sales tax that is a core part of Library funding. These measures promised to preserve existing libraries and extend branch library services to the unserved and underserved areas of the County. They included the goal of "augmenting branch library services in the underserved areas of...Felton [and] Boulder Creek...through expansion and renovation of facilities, increased hours of operation, and increasing available library materials."

************************

FLF thanks all who participated in the 5th Annual San Lorenzo Poetry Contest and Reading -- judge Rosie King, notable readers Jytte Beatty, Kevin Collins, Susan Elgin, and Teal Messer, poets who submitted almost 150 poems, and all who attended the Reading on Wednesday April 29 at the Felton Community Hall.
Read the winning poems and see photographs of the event

***********************

FLF sponsored a tremendously successful evening with Paula Poundstone in support of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. The sold-out performance and well-attended after-party benefited Felton Library Friends and its ongoing advocacy of the new Felton branch library. FLF wishes to thank Paula, Michael Horne and Pulse Productions, Laurence Bedford and the Rio Theater, New Leaf Community Markets, Trader Joe’s, Zayante Vineyards, Michael Renwick, and the Valley Women’s Club of the San Lorenzo Valley for their support of this event.

***********************

FLF is grateful to longtime Felton branch supporters Kenneth and Shirley Whalen, whose bequest of over $100,000 will contribute towards our goal of creating a new branch library for Felton and surrounding communities. More information.

************************

The Second Annual Felton Library Festival, held on September 13, was a tremendous success. Hundreds of Valley residents joined FLF in celebrating the site of the future Felton Library.

In April 2008, the Library Joint Powers Board approved the following resolution proposed by Supervisor Mark Stone:

That the Board move to set the Felton Library as the highest capital priority and that no other capital money be spent on any other capital projects including upgrades, remodels, changes or new starts, until the new Felton branch is funded. For further clarification this action would not apply to money spent from the operations budget for normal capital equipment expenditures such as for shelving, maintenance projects, etc.

Members of Felton Library Friends, a chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, worked hard in support of Measure R, the permanent sales tax for libraries in Santa Cruz County. With a permanent revenue stream for operating expenses, FLF hopes that long-term plans, such as those for a new Felton branch library, will be possible. FLF is pleased to report that support for Measure R in the San Lorenzo Valley was very strong.