By Shayan Abbasi
The Huntington Beach City Council has voted 4-3 in favor of starting a bidding process to find a private firm to manage the library. During a recent meeting that decided this, however, there were significant concerns posed towards what this would mean for the future of the library.
The decision follows a suggestion from Library Systems and Services, a company that manages libraries across the United States; the company claims its private management services could save Huntington Beach $1 million a year. However, many are worried that these savings might come at a high cost, including lower wages, fewer services for library workers, and a possible loss of the personal connection that community libraries offer.
Councilwoman Natalie Moser criticized the move as contradictory to the library’s mission
“We’ve created a ‘We Love Our Libraries’ month only to turn around and look at selling that very library system out,” Moser said at the meeting. “We already have a bookstore in town, we should not be looking at turning our library into another one.”
The discussions also touched on a new rule about what books can be on the library shelves, especially for kids, and privatization would lead to this rule becoming revamped. Last fall, the council agreed to set up a 21-person panel to check children’s books for content they may find unsuitable for their age. This has added to the tension, as opponents of privatization, such as Councilman Dan Kalmick, argue the change is an unnecessary step to mix politics with library management.
“It’s not just about who runs the library. It’s about keeping politics out of our public spaces,” Kalmick said.
Those in favor of looking into privatization point out it’s a move that may help the city save money without hurting library services. Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns supported the decision, mentioning that it was the council’s responsibility to consider cost-saving measures.
“If we can get the same services and do it more economically, I think it is our duty as leaders in the community, as council members, to look at those kinds of savings,” Burns said at the meeting.
However, library staff and some community members are not convinced. Laura Jenkins, a senior youth services librarian, expressed her concerns about privatization.
“I don’t know what the terms of an outsourcing contract might be, but I do know that outsourced libraries are widely known for being a revolving door of workers,” Jenkins said at the meeting.
The idea of privatization has also drawn criticism from state and national interest groups, including PEN America and EveryLibrary, who released statements against the council’s decision, based on the proposition that the library’s role as a key community source would be threatened under the privatization measures. This is a move that may impact the Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) community in a significant way, given how students of the school visit the library often.
The debate over whether to privatize or not continues to bring strong debate in Huntington Beach, which shows the wider concerns about the future of public services and the role of government in managing community services.
