Libraries discussion set for Dec. 8 Placer Supervisors meeting

Published on October 29, 2015

The Placer County Board of Supervisors will consider actions recommended under the county’s library strategic plan at the Dec. 8 board meeting in Auburn.

The item had been scheduled for the board’s Nov. 17 meeting but was postponed at the request of the Loomis Library Ad-Hoc Committee to give them more time to prepare a presentation to the board.

The Placer County library system has been relying on budgetary reserves for several years, due to escalating costs and the significant decrease in property taxes as a result of the recession. While the economy is improving, costs continue to climb, and the funding has not bounced back as quickly, leaving many libraries with shortened hours, long-deferred maintenance and lacking current materials, technology, and programming that patrons expect to find.

Under the library strategic plan, libraries in Loomis and Meadow Vista would close and resources would be redirected throughout the library system where usage is higher to help modernize and improve the services offered at the rest of the libraries.

The Dec. 8 board of supervisors meeting begins at 9 a.m. at 175 Fulweiler Avenue in Auburn and is open to the public.