That library is the jewel of our city. It brings tourists in summer, hosts students year round, brings our families together, and provides unquantifiable benefit to our community. Privatizing this resource is a sure way to ruin all of this, as these goals no longer become the priority, making money is instead.
There is no reason. There is no need. It’s the City’s job to provide public services.
Please oppose privatization of our Library System.
- Ameelia Ghareeb
Resident 92649
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39:20 AM
From: Jeanne Whitesell <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:27 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library privatization
Dear Council Members,
I am appalled to think you are considering privatizing the wonderful HB Library that has been operating for over 100 years without any problems.
Please, Council, spend time working on real issues confronting HB and quit making up 'problems' that don't exist. Vote NO on library privatization.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Whitesell
17922 Shoreham Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Huntington Beach Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39:27 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Huang <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:31 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Huntington Beach Library
Huntington Beach City Council Members,
As a Huntington Beach resident, I strongly oppose the following items:
Item 22 — managed library services
Item 24 — parent review board for children’s library
The library has been a wonderful resource for the city as is and there is no reason to even consider having it managed by a private company.
There is also no reason to have anyone review books for the children’s library. It is not an issue and has never been an issue.
Angela Huang
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Item 22. 24-197 Privatization of Huntington Beach Public Library 3/18/2024 Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39:33 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:40 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Item 22. 24-197 Privatization of Huntington Beach Public Library 3/18/2024 Honorable Council Members,
If the beach is the heart of Huntington Beach, the library is its soul. The activities and resources at the library build community. The volunteers and Friends of the Library help build relationships and skills in our neighborhoods. It supports literacy, veterans, seniors and career building. This will be dissolved under a corporation led library. A corporation serves its stockholders, not the citizens.
Huntington Beach Public Library, and its branches, is a source of pride for our city. Let us not denigrate a jewel in the crown of HB .
Huntington Beach resident of 44 years,
Cathy McCabe
Sent from my iPad
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Remove Administrative Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39:37 AM
From: Maya Ford <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:40 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Remove Administrative Item 24-197
Please do not give away our Public Library to any private company. This library has been an extremely useful public space for our community. It is a place for people of all ages and I enjoy every time I go.
There are so many benefits this library provides for its community that for our benefit it must not go to a private sector.
Thank you for listening and I hope this encourages you to drop Administrative item 24-197.
Maya Ford
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: March 19, 2024 Agenda item #22
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39:55 AM
From: Bev Sansone <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:41 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Re: March 19, 2024 Agenda item #22
I have lived in Huntington Beach since 1996 and have enjoyed using the HBPL since moving here.
I do not support Agenda item #22 regarding a request for proposals for Managed library Services for the Huntington Beach Public Library system which is to be discussed at the March 19, 2024 City Council meeting.
I have been researching Library Systems and Services and I have concerns regarding this business taking over our library system. In addition to the ongoing lawsuit in Escondido over the privatization of their public library system there, I have also read about other cities that have had problems with LS&S. I found a good summary in the Fullerton Observer March 8, 2022 as included here:
Over the years many communities have rejected contracting with LS&S or ended their contracts with them.
The bullet-pointed items below are some of the more compelling issues that have been recorded by those libraries that have left LS&S or rejected the company’s offer to manage their library. • Savings not as expected. Escondido’s contract has the city paying for all technology, software, and maintenance costs as well as being billed for the cost plus 5% handling fee for materials. Santa Clarita Public Library in California found the net cost to operate the library in-house at the same staffing level as LS&S would save the city approximately $400,000 the first year after leaving LS&S. Calabasas Library saved $68,000 the first year after leaving LS&S.
• Reductions of service. Some libraries have less service and more reduction of hours due to staff cutbacks resulting from the loss of professional staff.
• Loss of local connection to the community. LS&S has been reported to substitute a remote reference service for local reference librarians. Also, with their standardized high volume buying there is a minimal collection of Spanish language materials.
• Library Programming is controlled by LS&S. It is no longer up to staff to determine what best serves the local population’s needs and interests.
• Negative Effect on library staffing. LS&S Staff serves at the pleasure of LS&S. They replace unionized workers with nonunion employees and often cut wages. This can cause the loss of experienced staff and result in a high turnover rate.
• Negative effects on the library collection. When LS&S takes over, they get control of the library collection and they do the ordering. LS&S saves money by narrowing the library collection and focusing on best sellers. This can result in the loss of ability to adapt to the needs and interests of local patrons. • Lack of transparency of finances. San Juan City Library in Texas left LS&S stating that LS&S would not divulge its profit margin. The Oregon State Library reported LS&S spent 28% of money from Jackson County on “other” but would not identify what constituted “other.” • Lack of willingness to talk in a public setting was given as one reason Prince William County, Maryland rejected LS&S.
Privatization of the library would take control of managing the library out of the hands of local staff and place it in the grasp of a for-profit company whose previously stated goal has been to generate outstanding returns and grow revenues and profits for their investors.
Our projected budgets are starting to show negative cash flow. I believe this can be turned around easily by avoiding future lawsuits we are sure to encounter with some of the provisions this city council has recommended, as well as reviewing the $5 million we gave the the airshow to settle that lawsuit - I feel Huntington Beach was taken to the bank and that we should have gone to court rather that settling.
I don’t believe we should be privatizing our libraries in order to find “savings”, of which other cities have found elusive when dealing with LS&S.
Thank you,
Beverly Sansone, MD
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:04 AM
From: Kathleen Lueck <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:47 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
For 53 years I have been a proud resident of Huntington Beach, cheering for and delighting in the unnumbered improvements to our city made by former council members — our PUBLIC library system one of the most magnificent and most revered by citizens of Huntington Beach and residents of the entire county.
How DARE YOU, how DARE YOU bring your wrecking ball to this system that has well served us for more than 100 years? How DARE YOU make our library part of your claim to fame as your political agenda?
I demand that you leave our library alone. Our staff of REAL LIBRARIANS and the planning of our former REAL CITY-BUILDERS have created and maintained this gem for years. LEAVE our PUBLIC LIBRRY in the hands of the PUBLIC — not in the hands of a private company.
Kathleen Lueck
17411 Mayor Lane, H.B.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: No! To Item 22 and Item 24!!!!
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:08 AM
From: Nancy Nielsen-Mirza <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 8:51 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: No! To Item 22 and Item 24!!!!
What's wrong with you people? Our library and librarians are great. Please focus on real city problems like EVERYONE agrees - homelessness. Geez.
NO on Item 22and Item 24.
Nancy
12 year HB/SB resident
2 kids in the school system
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Do not privatize library management
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:12 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Conor Sullivan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:02 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Do not privatize library management
Dear City Council,
Privatizing the city library management would be a detrimental decision that jeopardizes the accessibility, autonomy, and integrity of this essential public institution. Libraries are pillars of democracy, offering free access to information, education, and community resources for all residents. Management from a private entity introduces profit motives that could compromise the library's core mission, leading to restricted access, reduced services, and biased information dissemination. Moreover, privatization could result in increased costs for residents, as private companies prioritize financial gains over public service. The library must remain under public stewardship to ensure equitable access, democratic principles, and the preservation of community interests. Therefore, I urge the city council to reject any proposals for the private management of our city libraries and instead focus on strengthening public funding and support for this vital community resource.
Sincerely,
Conor Sullivan
From: Susie Cerami
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Preserving our Public Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:14 AM
Dear HB City Council,
I am writing to respectfully request and Encourage you to PLEASE keep our amazing HB Public Library PUBLIC, and not vote to privatize it. For MANY reasons. As a LONG time Huntington Beach resident, I know that our HB Public Library is one of the most beloved locations in our city. HBPL has ALWAYS been known even countywide as being the BEST library. Our now teen daughters enjoyed so many storytimes, study hours, events in the theatre, etc. Please don't change this for generations to come. The city SHOULD be funding the library. Why don't we look at creative ways to raise money for the library if needed? Our HB residents are MORE than willing to do that. But if you sell the library to LS&S Corp, our HB community with lose all say in what happens at our COMMUNITY library. And those free events that are so educational and enriching for our HB residents, will start to cost money, and people will stop coming.
LS&S stands to make big profits at the expense of our own magnificent librarians and staff, and will reduce our library services to be a business. Not the warm, inviting, loving place that it currently is. Bloomberg News reports trying to reach LS&S run libraries throughout the country, and running into automated response systems without ever finding a real person.
Emails go unanswered. Do we want this for our library? Our ONE wonderful institution that is so amazing, and a home for so many families? Ownership by LS&S will also streamline the content that is in our library, rather than having books that reflect our local community.
Additionally, they will remain completely unaccountable to us taxpayers. So basically, they will have the ability to use OUR taxpayer money in any way THEY see fit. Why would you want to lose this control? Why would we want to sell our library to a big business? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE vote NO on privatizing our public library. At the VERY least, vote to table the issue and do more research. The residents of Huntington Beach deserve this. Please Vote to SAVE our HB PUBLIC library.
Sincerely,
Susie Cerami
HB resident
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatizing library and Council appointment of book monitors Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:18 AM
From: Annilise Flanagan-Frankl <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:06 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Privatizing library and Council appointment of book monitors
As an HB resident, educator, school psychologist and mother, I am in opposition to privatization of the public library. The words PUBLIC LIBRARY means our taxes pay for the library and belongs to the community not a for-profit entity.
Second, I am totally against non-professionals, with agendas, determining what my grandchildren should be allowed to read. What is decided by parents is the key to developing independent,creative thinkers- that means keep your hands off the library and the books within.
Annilise M. Flanagan-Frankl, M.A.
CounselingPsychologist
Nationally
Certified School Psychologist
Remember - the past is over, the future is a mystery,and today is a gift.
That is why it is called the PRESENT.
Make today count.
Call: 847-226-3119
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: HB Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:23 AM
From: Diane Amendola <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:07 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: HB Library
For Public Record
Dear Council Members,
Until a complete analysis of the costs associated with turning our libraries over to a for profit equity firm we need to hear of their track record and history of library management which I do not believe has been done. It would seem highly irresponsible of this council to make such a decision without community involvement. This is my library too, not just yours. Which residents have weighed in on your decision? I had heard nothing about this at prior Council Meetings, when did you begin considering this? In my opinion these are questions which you owe the residents an answer for. Do you think it's wrong for residents to expect be better informed about major decisions? If you do, then I voted for the wrong people.
Sincerely,
Mary Amendola
Resident, homeowner and voter
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Against Privatization of Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:33 AM
From: Kaitlin Mendoza <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:26 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Against Privatization of Library
Hello,
As a long term resident of Huntington Beach, I am thoroughly against privatizing our library. Please MOVE ON and pass some measures that will actually benefit the residents of Huntington Beach.
There have to be better issues that you can focus your efforts on rather than this needless posturing.
Thank you,
Kaitlin Mendoza
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: City library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:45 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Gordon <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 9:59 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: City library
Members of City Council,
I’m contacting you to let you know I’m fearful that if you contract operations the new operator will change how we can check out books or even change what kind of books they order. If the new company keeps the same check out systems and doesn’t ban books and hopefully doesn’t lay off staff then I’m all for it.
Sue Gordon
Huntington Beach resident for 40 years
Sent from my iPad
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Agenda Item24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:40:52 AM
From: Ellie Johnson <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 10:15 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Agenda Item24-197
To the members of the City Council:
I am opposed to Agenda Item 24-197.
A few weeks ago I emailed about my concern that consideration was being given to contract with a for-profit library management company. I received a response from Casey McKeon who stated that the Council received lots of proposals to consider. So had the Council already received proposals? But now the Council is asking for there to be a vote on requesting proposals for Managed Library Services which leaves me wondering where exactly the Council is heading and why this would even be considered. We have an excellent, well managed, successful public library system. We have infrastructure and institutional knowledge. Why look to outsource an exceptional library system with 5 branches? I say "YES" to maintain our thriving, inclusive publicly owned Hunting Beach Public Library. It is a treasure in our community.
Respectfully submitted,
Eleanor Johnson
Eaglecrest Drive
Huntington Beach
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: March 19, 2024 HB City Council Meeting, Agenda Items 22 and 24 Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:06 AM
From: Pamela Edwards <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 10:23 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: March 19, 2024 HB City Council Meeting, Agenda Items 22 and 24
HB City Council,
As a non-resident of HB, what draws me to HB is the beautiful HB Central Library. This dynamic library is the reason my family and I come to HB. Not the beach but the library! The sweeping changes being made to the library are destroying this great institution. Please stop before the HB Library is gutted.
My family and I have been HB Library patrons for 30 years. If you continue on this path you will no longer have this 'jewel' as it's known and loved today. The HB Central Library draws people from all over Orange County. Do you want to lose visitors from surrounding communities that bring money into your community? Keep making these changes and you will have destroyed what makes the HB Central Library unique and special.
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Vote NO to privatization please. It is the conservative thing to do. NO to 24-197 Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:19 AM
From: T N <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 10:49 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Vote NO to privatization please. It is the conservative thing to do. NO to 24-197
First time ever writing City Council in 15 years, but that's how much I want the Central Library to stay publicly funded.
I voted for a mix of people on the City Council to stay conservative, but I will vote against anybody voting for privatization.
I need to see old experienced well-paid people running the library, they give more than we could ever pay them. Anybody in management knows that loyalty is a bargain. If you want to have a committee fine, but please do not privatize. We visit every single weekend and I make sure to buy something to support the city and library every single weekend.
Privatization is a race to the bottom that ends up costing more in the long run, always does, it has my entire life in everything. Our "privatized libraries" are Amazon and Barnes and Noble and they aren't good libraries.
You really don't want to lose my reasonable,
conservative vote going forward. Please vote
NO to privatization.
Thank you for listening, I will be following up,
Tim Noble
Director of Technology and Product Development
HB Homeowner/Tax Payer SINCE 2009
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: HB public library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:28 AM
From: Gina Cappelli <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:03 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: HB public library
Hello,
I have lived in HB for almost my entire life. I moved here at age 6, but even before then, my dad and I would drive to HB central library to sit and read books almost every weekend. Now I live 3 minutes down the road and marvel at how lucky I am to have such a wonderful library, with amazing staff at arms reach. For you to even consider having a private company take over management is saddening.
HB claims to be a great community, but how came you claim this and privatize one of our beloved community centers? This would take away needed jobs from people who actually love the library and make it what it is (part of the community!). I please urge you to not have a provate company take over.
Thank you,
Concerned resident
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatization of the Huntington Beach Library Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:40 AM
From: Jean Peterson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:23 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Privatization of the Huntington Beach Library
March 18, 2024
Huntington Beach City Council Members
Gracey Van Der Mark
Rhonda Bolton
Dan Kalmick
Natalie Moser
Pat Burns
Tony Strickland
Casey McKeon
Huntington Beach
200 Main St #5
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Dear Huntington Beach City Council Members,
I am writing you this letter in support of our beautiful public library in Huntington Beach. I have read disturbing, concerning news that the Huntington Beach City Council is discussing privatizing the services of our public library. Apparently, the CC will be discussing a proposal from a former mayor of Huntington Beach on behalf of a company called LS&S at the March 19th CC meeting.
A quick, simple Google search shows this company to be a for-profit company that started as a software company, having no experience with library science or library services. Also found via a Google search is that libraries that have fallen under this private control have hundreds of books culled from their shelves, employees fired, and library programs cancelled. The company makes decisions on which books remain, and which books get “cancelled.” Furthermore, LS&S is apparently well known for its lack of transparency regarding it activities in “managing” the libraries that it takes over.
The depleted shelves of libraries that LS&S takes complete control of do not have a diverse variety of books, just best seller books. That is not a library. It is a Barnes and Noble bookstore. LS&S has no Library Science degrees of its employees. It is a management company only, just interested in making a profit. The library is a PUBLIC entity, that should not have uneducated managers making decisions about the content of our PUBLIC library. A diverse collection of books and reading materials in the library ensures that Huntington Beach residents have the ability to learn about their cultures as well as others. Books allow for the public to read and learn about the experiences of other people, people like themselves, people different from them, people from different parts of the country, and people from other countries.. This includes both non-fiction books as well as fiction books.
The Huntington Beach Library offers so many services for children, teens, and adults. Those services would most likely be cancelled with the LS&S takeover. I encourage you to view the Huntington Beach Library’s webpage as well as its FaceBook page to see all of the different services and activities our library offers. Our PUBLIC library is so much more than books and “management.” I worked for the Los Angeles County Public Library System for five years as my first job. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed being able to provide services and knowledge to patrons regarding all of the different books and types of books in our collection, making their experiences more personalized. Not every library patron wanted to read the same books or the same types of books.
I know other Huntington Beach residents have sent emails in support of the library as well. One CC member’s response was “… The library will remain a Public Library free of charge to visitors except for the tax dollars that pay for the Library budget.” That is a disingenuous response from CC member McKeon
relating to the issues the residents of HB are concerned about regarding privatization of our library’s daily activities, It seems as if the “majority” of CC members have already made a decision without any input from HB residents. It would be a tremendous mistake to privatize our PUBLIC library by LS&S, as former mayor Posey has proposed. Please do not hire a private, for-profit company to take over our public library services.
Sincerely,
Jean L Peterson
16921 Red Rock Circle
Huntington Beach, 92649
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatization of HB Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:46 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Curtis Ong <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:40 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Privatization of HB Library
Sent from my iPhoneI
I am totally against the privatization of our public libraries to be contracted out by outside firms. A disservice to our community and the heritage of Huntington Beach. The council members who have even entertained this option should be ashamed.
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:41:53 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Jessie Reeves Clemens <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:03 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
Please leave the library alone. Privatizing would be a mistake.
Sent from my iPhone
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: The potential outsourcing of our public library Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:42:59 AM
From: natalie rokos <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:12 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: The potential outsourcing of our public library
Dear Council, I am writing to express my dismay and disappoint with the agenda item regarding studying the possibility of outsourcing our wonderful HB public library. This is one of the worst ideas this council has come up with , however there have been plenty of others preceding. In no way, shape or fashion does the award winning library need to be turned over to a for profit company. Nor does it need to have untrained and uneducated people in library science, choosing which books may or may not be in the library. Please let this idea go and get back to running our city.
Natalie Rokos
Resident and homeowner of HB for 29 years
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library Privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:09 AM
From: Hilarie Kelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:18 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library Privatization
To All Huntington Beach City Council Members:
I object to the lack of transparency involved in this highly politicized investigation into privatizing the Huntington Beach Public Library. What specific problem is privatizing supposed to solve and what solid evidence is there that privatization would solve that problem? Why was there no open process to reliably assess the desires of the entire HB community, no data collection on public use patterns and satisfaction with our libraries? Where is a specific list of what, exactly, a private company will be contracted to do and how will they be held accountable for doing it? What, precisely, will the city still be responsible for in terms of building and grounds maintenance (including fountains), utilities costs (including internet), and insurance? Who, if anyone, is doing a valid costs and benefits analysis? Is this just childish political payback? How will privatization impact the FOTL, FOTCL, the genealogical collection, seed library, literacy programs, digital library, theater and room rentals, used book and gift sales, and the rich offerings of events and activities that our beloved library is known for? How will privatization improve what the library offers to the residents of Huntington Beach? Most importantly, what happens if privatization fails? How will the residents of Huntington Beach be compensated?
Hilarie Kelly
Resident of Huntington Beach for 35 years
Member of FOTCL
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Outsourcing the library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:16 AM
From: elena uranga <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:27 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Outsourcing the library
Huntington Beach City Council Members
March 15, 2024
My name is Elena Uranga, a Huntington Beach resident, user of the Huntington Beach library, and member of a Book Club organized by the Oak View Library.
I sincerely appreciate the work of the HB Library staff and how community oriented they are in their approach to managing the City’s libraries.
Please do not change this by putting our libraries in the hands of private companies, the libraries are not a business. I view them in the same category as our local government staff, including police and fire, in that they are all necessary public services funded by our tax dollars. Libraries are a significant community resource, not a profit center.
Your attention to this petition is greatly appreciated.
Elena Uranga
20042 Harbor Isle Ln.
Huntington Beach, Ca,92646
Sent from my iPhone
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:22 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: teriwill2 <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:33 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
It has come to my attention that the city council is considering selling our library system to a private company.
Please do the right thing by our citizens and do not do this. There is nothing wrong with the beautiful libraries we have. Please think of future generations, not profit.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in this manner.
Teri Williams
Sent from my iPhone
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:27 AM
From: jose uranga <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:40 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
Huntington Beach City Council Members
March 15, 2024
My name is Jose Uranga, a Huntington Beach resident, user of the Huntington Beach library, and member of a Book Club organized by the Oak View Library.
I sincerely appreciate the work of the HB Library staff and how community oriented they are in their approach to managing the City’s libraries.
Please do not change this by putting our libraries in the hands of private companies, the libraries are not a business. I view them in the same category as our local government staff, including police and fire, in that they are all necessary public services funded by our tax dollars. Libraries are a significant community resource, not a profit center.
Your attention to this petition is greatly appreciated.
Jose Uranga
20042 Harbor Isle Ln.
Huntington Beach, Ca,92646
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Please Do Not Privatize HBPL!
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:46 AM
From: Jillian Fenton <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:29 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Please Do Not Privatize HBPL!
Hello,
I’m writing to ask that you not seek to privatize our beloved Huntington Beach Public Library. It would be a huge mistake as our library is already run by perfectly capable and devoted individuals.
Some of you have an agenda that will not fly when it comes to our library. When you go after our perfectly-run library, you go after its patrons and our community.
Do not look to privatize our library.
Thank you,
Jillian Fenton
Homeowner and mother in Huntington Beach
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Making our library run by a private company Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:51 AM
From: Polly Pitsker <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:30 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Making our library run by a private company
I am a Huntington Beach resident, living on 22nd Street. I am 88 years old. I am appalled at the idea that the council is considering privatization of our FREE AND PUBLIC library.
A private owned company must make a profit. Are we to pay for each book? A subscription? How are the underprivileged going to do that? This is a terrible idea. I know we pay for the library through our taxes but that is a progressive tax. A private company would basically eliminate the group of lower income families, who could then neither buy or borrow books.
Reading is critical for growth and understanding ourselves, our world and our environment. It also brings joy and humor into our lives. Don't privatize our City's library system.
Sincerely,
Polly Pitsker
610 22nd Street
713-375-3337 land line
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: No to Privatizing the HB PUBLIC Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:43:56 AM
From: Allie Plum <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:39 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: No to Privatizing the HB PUBLIC Library
I want to express my total dissatisfaction and opposition with what the City Council has on the agenda for privatizing our jewel, HB Central library.
First the public should have been given a choice on such an important issue. No competition between private for profit firms was held. Why? Mr Posey stands ready to gain significantly. Were there behind the scenes meetings held? Violation of the Brown Act possibly?
Second who is responsible for maintaining the building when L S &S takes over? My understanding is the City, which would be a cost on this aging building. And what about what happens when the contract runs out?
Our fantastic HB library system has served our community well since 1909. The Central Park library built in 1975 stands as a unique architectural landmark which presently serves EVERYONE. Please don’t break a system that works so well because of political divides. Vote NO on privatization of OUR library.
Sincerely,
Allie Plum
Concerned HB citizen
And Avid library user
From: Melissa Romero
To: [email protected]
Subject: Protect our libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:51:47 AM
To whom it may concern,
As a Huntington Beach taxpayer and frequent library patron, leave our libraries alone! Privatizing our libraries is a disgusting proposition and the right wing’s attempt to further politicize our public institutions. Do not privatize our libraries.
Sincerely,
Melissa R.
(she/her)
From: Debbi Parrott
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Library privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:52:03 AM
Dear HB City Council,
I deeply oppose item #22 which explores the privatization of our library. This is just another instance of trying to fix some thing that isn’t broken and inventing problems. Please focus on things that actually benefit all constituents like fixing our infrastructure.
With gratitude,
Debbi Parrott
From: Mary Cota
To: [email protected]
Subject: Do NOT privatize Libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:52:29 AM
Hello,
please do NOT privatize our libraries. This is literally one of the few safe spaces left. We don’t want or need capitalism and extreme politics infiltrating our libraries. I’m a life long resident and I’ve never missed voting. We will mobilize. Leave our libraries as is.
Thank you,
Mary Cota
From: Jennifer Brannon
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Our Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:52:51 AM
Dear Council Members,
I'm writing to encourage you to preserve and celebrate our local library and maintain it completely under local control. I'm a Huntington Beach resident, my husband and I raised our daughter here and I am also a teacher. I was raised with a fabulous local library and unfettered access to books. I read voraciously and have been saddened with the onset of social media to see children read fewer novels.
Books transported me to other worlds and gave me a window into other lives and experiences. Never did I want to become a different person just because I read a character in a book. When I encountered content or vocabulary I didn't understand, I simply asked my parents and I felt safe to as they created that relationship with me. I kept my parents value of allowing my daughter access to any book she wanted and she in turn felt safe to ask me questions.
Books are the best example of self-directed learning and self-directed learning leads to people who want to be lifelong learners. In my case, reading gorgeous novels and poetry led me to study creative writing. In my husband's case, his love of the writings of Marcus Aurelius led him to studying him more deeply in an expansive thesis. In our daughter's case, reading philosophical and religious texts have led her to a deeper relationship with her faith. What each of us had was a teacher or librarian to guide, question and support us as we literally gobbled up what interested us.
I'm a special education teacher. My students struggle deeply with reading and it's extremely hard to keep them engaged while still working on basic decoding. This is why I always read novels to my students. Nothing else makes them want to learn to read like escaping and delighting into a good book. We read "Matilda" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and I adore seeing all of them attach to the characters and be able to compare and contrast them.
One day, a boy returned from an absence and was giving me lots of attitude during the reading block. Finally he confessed that he was upset that we read the book while we were gone and he missed what had happened. I have seen kids make two grade levels of growth in one year just because they fell in love with books and it ignited their learning. Last year we took students on a walking field trip to the library. One boy said to me incredulously, "I've never been to a library before. I didn't know all of this was here." We must keep that wonder just that way for our kids and for us.
The danger to our children is not books, it's the tool that parents buy and put into the hands of their children with little to no supervision. The reality is that is where kids regularly encounter graphic content and are left vulnerable to manipulation. The best way we have of preserving innocence in our kids is by helping to shape a love of reading books. That is exactly where librarians who know books intimately come in and are able to use that expertise to spark a love of reading for our kids and further it. Please don't replace that incredible resource by privatizing or outsourcing our amazing library. Please turn your energy into empowering the library as the incredible resource it is for our community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Brannon
From: j m
To: [email protected]
Subject: do not privatize our library (HBPL)
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:54:59 AM
Dear Council Members and Mayor,
We believe in choice in this country, correct?
I, and many others, are speaking out against the plans to privatize the Huntington Beach Public Library or allow anyone other than our professional, educated and dedicated librarians and educators to select the best books to develop and expand the minds of our community.
I remember going to HBPL a few decades ago when i was growing up here and this institution is a valuable resource we should be increasing public funds for it best operation.
It is time we all stop fighting and start uniting on the issues we can. Stop this mess and let's focus on:
1-Cleaning and protecting our beaches (which bring in billions of dollars, but will not when the sand is covered with trash).
2-Truly helping our unhoused neighbors off the streets and back into employment and stable housing... 3-educating our young folks to be the best leaders they can be in the near future. To lead with intelligence, compassion, and sound reasoning.
4-Creating a public works program to make the above things happen as efficiently, successfully, and transparency and accountability to help maintain the course.
Are a few places to start.
Please do not privatize the Huntington Public Library, instead please increase their funding and give the local librarians, educators and involved families make these choices. We do believe in choices in this country, right?
One more point, is the lack of transparency, credibility, and strong chance of corruption regarding the company Library Systems, LLC with Mike Posey, to take over the HBPL, NO, this is shameful and should be investigated by the FBI if what seems to be true about these dealings. Please stop this mess and let's focus on issues we all want to deal with and help our community.
Thank you
Julie Molitor
92649
From: Ella Cerami
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Please SAVE our PUBLIC Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:58:07 AM
Dear Huntington Beach City Council,
We are writing to encourage you to please vote NO on privatizing the HB Public Library. We both have grown up with the HB library, from walking across the street for storytime and studying with friends to exploring the children's section. Even now, we are both interns on HBPL's PressTeen, where we have been given the opportunity to collaborate with other teens through reading and writing. The Public Library gives so many opportunities and experiences to both young and old. It is a special place for the community and many would be devastated to see it privatized. Huntington Beach citizens deserve a say in our public library which we hold so close to our hearts! The community would be more than willing to design ways to keep the library under public control. So please vote no on privatizing the public library so that future generations can continue to enjoy and contribute to its continued success.
--
Ava & Ella Cerami
[email protected]
From: Kathleen Deemer
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:58:37 AM
I strongly oppose privatizing the library in Huntington Beach and urge you to do the same.
Turning over the library to a for profit company will adversely affect the services provided by the library and adversely affect community.
I am very concerned that the library will have to shorten hours, lose librarians and do other things to cut cost and make a profit.
The city needs to maintain control of the library and continue to make it a community service.
Thank you.
Kathleen Deemer
--
Kathleen Deemer
Dr. Albert Schweitzer Leadership Academy
4th Grade
From: Linda
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:00:28 AM
I do not understand why you would want to allow a private company to take over the library. Our HB libraries are known widely for their collections, for their commitment to the surrounding communities, their programs that serve so many in so many ways and of course the beautiful building in Central Park. Surely it cannot just be $$ you are concerned about.
Please reconsider-talk to some of the citizens who use the library-come into the library if for nothing more than to sit and take a moment to peacefully think about how many HB (and other) citizens will be affected. The library has many volunteers who lovingly give of their time and talents to help this institution remain the valuable icon that it is.
Won't you join us?
Linda Mendelssohn
From: SUZETTE CLARK
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Item 22. Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:03:49 AM
I STRONGLY OPPOSE Managed Library Services!
I am a teacher of over 45 years and have been a patron of our HB libraries for the 25 years I’ve owned in this city. I am appalled at the assault on our library system by the Majority City Council ! I have spoken to many library personnel and volunteers who daily work hard to provide our community with a wonderful learning environment. I have found that our Libraries are completely keeping within the 5 million dollar budget AND receive up to 18,000 per month donated from the Friends of the Library to add to the multi educational opportunities provided. There are no financial reasons that the library itself needs to privatize . None of the patrons or personnel I spoke with over the last several weeks desire this change. I am told they are quite self sufficient and doing just fine. This I have witnessed. I have bragged about our beautiful library and its efficiency for as long as I’ve lived here. “Why fix something that ain’t broke?” Our Central Library is the Crown Jewel of Huntington Beach and is very busy on a daily basis. I visit quite often and almost daily since I heard of this proposed unnecessary private takeover. The library doesn’t want it, the employees and volunteers don’t want it and the patrons don’t want it.
Why in the world would you be looking for a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist???? From my research it appears that we have the air show lawsuit to cover, among multiple lawsuits , and the newest about to happen according to the state because of your Measure A adoption, not to mention the over $400,000 of our taxpayers’ money to put those measures on the ballot now instead of November .
Why should the patrons of the library be saddled with your debt when our budget is a tiny fraction of your entire city budget and we meet it.
Additionally When I learned you’re taking away 8,000 library cards from our children 18 and under - I was shocked and thought I was being thrust back into Nazi Germany. At a time when educators are doing everything they can to encourage children to read and pick up a book - you appear to be doing everything you can to discourage that! Lets see, our pre teens and teens can recklessly ride all over the city on streets and intersections on motorized E bikes but dear Lord - do not let them have access to library materials without mommy next to them. Are you serious?? Do you know how preposterous that sounds not to mention restrictive of civil rights? If you don’t see the serious threat these kids on e-bikes are causing - you must not drive in this city.
Your allegiances appear to be misguided. STOP THE ASSAULT on our HUNTINGTON BEACH LIBRARIES where our citizens and guests go to learn, relax and quietly enjoy the immeasurable benefits of reading and productive community groups. We want our kids READING not on social media trying the latest dangerous TIK TOK challenge or recklessly driving e-bikes across busy streets, taking over intersections, being used for quick getaways with our juvenile theft, or injuring themselves and others. Put your efforts there along with the homeless and mentally ill and leave the library alone.
Sincerely,
Suzette Clark
18877 Breezy Ln
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Sent from my iPhone
From: Joshua Nykamp
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:06:49 AM
The library system in HB is great. I don't think there's a real reason to privatize it. This seems like more overreach by the city council to further the culture war agenda of banning the books four members disagree with.
Josh Nykamp
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:10:37 AM
From: Kathleen Deemer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7:53 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
Dear City Council :
I strongly oppose privatizing the library in Huntington Beach and urge you to do the same.
Turning over the library to a for profit company will adversely affect the services provided by the library and adversely affect community.
I am very concerned that the library will have to shorten hours, lose librarians and do other things to cut cost and make a profit.
The city needs to maintain control of the library and continue to make it a community service.
Thank you.
Kathleen Deemer
--
Kathleen Deemer
Dr. Albert Schweitzer Leadership Academy
4th Grade
From: Steven Coots
To: [email protected]
Subject: Do Not Privatize Our Libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:11:00 AM
To whom it may concern,
As a lifelong Huntington Beach resident and taxpayer, I am completely against privatizing our libraries. It is one of the few safe and accessible places in our city for families. Do not politicize this amazing public institution by privatizing the library.
Sincerely,
Steven Coots
(He/Him/His)
Sent from my iPhone
From: Art Gittleman
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:11:04 AM
We will lose hundreds of volunteers. The library is a gem a highlight of HB. We must protect it.
Art gittleman
Resident
7144545642
Sent from my iPhone
From: Glenda Golobay
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library Changes
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:14:48 AM
Please do not privatize our main library. Funding is always a difficult situation but we need to look to other sources of revenue. We have a beautiful Library. our library is a huge part of the efforts developing an area of community.
The library, athletic center, senior center and parks have created a sense of true planning for an area of community resource. Perhaps the committee could look at other OC cities like Irvine and other cities with strong Community programs and resourced.
Thank you
Glenda Golobay
Sent from my iPhone are also
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Vote NO on Request for Proposal to outsource the Huntington Beach Public Library (Agenda Item 24-197).
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:15:04 AM
From: j m <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:14 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Vote NO on Request for Proposal to outsource the Huntington Beach Public Library (Agenda Item 24-197).
Dear Council Members and Mayor,
The city of Huntington Beach needs HBPL to be owned and operated by the people of Huntington Beach, not a private corporation. Period.
Let's find common ground to work together, fix our issues, not bicker and fight over issues that are not problems (until they are created)
I, and many others, are speaking out against the plans to privatize the Huntington Beach Public Library or allow anyone other than our professional, educated and dedicated librarians and educators to select the best books to develop and expand the minds of our community.
I remember going to HBPL a few decades ago when i was growing up here and this institution is a valuable resource we should be increasing public funds for it best operation.
It is time we stop fighting and time we start uniting on the issues we can and must work together to fix. Stop this mess and let's focus on together:
1-Cleaning and protecting our beaches (which bring in billions of dollars, but will stop when the sand is always covered with trash).
2-Truly helping our unhoused neighbors off the streets and back into employment and stable housing... 3-Educating our young folks to be the best leaders they can be in the near future. Whether we prepare them or not, they may be the leaders who have the control over us when we are in our senior years. We want them to lead with intelligence, compassion, and sound reasoning, correct? 4-Creating a public works program to make the above things happen as efficiently, successfully, and transparency and accountability to help maintain the course.
These are a few starting points for us to focus our energy, instead of fighting each other, let's start working together...
Please do not privatize the Huntington Public Library, instead please increase their funding and give the local librarians, educators and involved families make these choices. We do believe in choices in this country, right? We have had a public library for many decades, don't stop that now.
NO, this is shameful, we do not need a Maryland Company, or organizations from the East Coast telling us how to run our library that has been in operated by local folks, who know and love HB for many decades.
Please do not continue on this issue.
Fund the library and let's move on to real problems. Clean our beaches!! Educate our Youth! Help our unhoused neighbors back into employment and housing! the list goes on... let's stop fighting and start working...
Please stop this mess and let's focus on issues we all want to deal with and help our community, together.
Thank you
Julie Molitor, 92649
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:15:10 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Art Gittleman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:14 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library
We will lose hundreds of volunteers. Our library is a gem a highlight of our city. Do not ruin it Art Gittleman Resident 1902 park st Down the street from city hall Sent from my iPhone From: Mathieu Royer
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:22:50 AM
Oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library Dear Huntington Beach City Council,
My name is Mathieu Royer and I am opposed to the privatization of our Public Library as it will diminish a great city institution that serves all members of our community.
As a lifelong citizen of Huntington Beach I have enjoyed nearly fifty years of library use. As a young student I relied on the vast collection to research class assignments and also nurtured my curiosity in all things literature. As an adult I visit the library after a stroll through Central Park and sit amongst the stacks for a leisurely read. There is a sound, a feeling that accompanies the well tended library. In my travels and experiences, I have enjoyed many libraries and I am proud to say that our hometown Huntington Beach public library is the best of them. Please consider these points when voting to keep our Library public.
Thank you, Mathieu Royer
Sent from my iPhone
From: Long Vo
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Library Privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:26:02 AM
I am a resident of Huntington Beach, zip code 92646.
We do not need to privatize what is already a working public resource. This is not a good decision for our community.
I strongly urge the city council to reject this proposal Long Vo
From: Tomi Simmons
To: [email protected]
Subject: Public comment
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:26:06 AM
Good morning,
I am submitting a public comment
I STRONGLY OPPOSE the proposed MANAGED LIBRARY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM 22 • ITEM 24-197
I strongly advise the council to not vote yes.
Tomi Simmons
From: Casey Shim
To: [email protected]
Subject: Opposition to 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:32:26 AM
As a former long-time resident of Huntington Beach, among my fondest memories was going to the HB Public Library branch near my parents’ home. It was also a place that my mother visited twice per month to get her fix of fact and fiction. The library staff were always kind and responsive.
A public library is the best service a city can provide to its citizens, young, old, and in between. Privatization of that public service will not improve services.
Huntington Beach should not go down this path.
Casey T Shim
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:34:09 AM
Attachments: text_0.txt
No privatization of Central Library! Dolly Burgess
From: Ken Greer
To: [email protected]
Cc: Katie Greer
Subject: Privatizing Library Services
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:35:09 AM
Last Friday was a sad day in our household when I learned Huntington Beach is contemplating handing over the literary future of our city to a private, for-profit company.
I guess one good thing that could come from this is that it will end the debate on what books to allow or not allow in our library. Library Services & Systems (LS&S) will make all the decisions for us. No more public opinion on what books or services to offer. Corporate executives that are beholden to shareholders (not the public they're serving) will make all the decisions. And those decisions will be based on profit margins, not what the public wants/deserves.
If the City Council is looking for easy ways to balance the budget, be wary of LS&S. As they've proven in other cities, there is a lack of financial transparency and more often than not the city's had to regain control of the library to save it from the poor state LS&S allowed it to get to. In the end, you may spend more money fixing what LS&S does to our beloved library system than you expect.
As a resident of Huntington Beach, it's embarrassing to see our city contemplate such a disastrous move. Our library didn't win BEST STORY-TIME in Orange County for no reason, we have passionate employees and devoted residents that take pride in our library system.
Please don't destroy such an incredible community resource! Sincerely,
Ken Greer
(714) 904-8908
From: Deborah Harvey
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:35:17 AM
I have owned my home in HB for over 22 years. I oppose privatization of the library. Please do not let this happen.
Be real.
Sincerely,
Deborah R. Harvey
Sent from my iPhone
From: Jaime Kauffman Palumbo
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comment for City Council Meeting 3-19-24
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:38:23 AM
Hello,
I am strongly opposed to the privatization of our beloved library. This city council is temporary, but our library is something that we are supposed to care for and then pass on to the next generation. How dare this council try to sell off our library, something that belongs to all of us. I don’t care if the city council uses semantics to say it’s only the managing of the library, this is a give away of something that our community cherishes. How dare you! The city council’s job is to take care of this city, but all this one has done is mire us in lawsuits and tarnish our image with its right wing performance art. After campaigning on not changing our charter, the first chance they got, they wasted money rushing ballot measures that do just that. And now they are going after our library. This will not go well for whoever tries to pass this. After breaking their one promise, doing nothing to better this city, and causing so much division in this community by not listening to what their constituents want, trying to sell off our library will unleash a backlash that I don’t think they are ready for. Do not entertain this ridiculous proposal.
Thank you,
John and Jaime Palumbo
From: Ryan List
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:38:28 AM
To the Huntington Beach City Council,
I am writing to oppose privatization of the Huntington Beach Public Library.
Our public libraries have been an essential part of civic life for generations, available to every citizen regardless of income. Please do not take this resource from the citizens of Huntington Beach and turn it over to a private company that does not have ALL of our citizens' best interests in mind.
I am confident that most citizens of Huntington Beach would agree that our public libraries are one of the best uses of our taxpayer dollars.
Voters will remember how this issue was handled (or mishandled) when the time comes to vote again for those who will best represent the city of Huntington Beach on City Council.
Ryan List
HB resident, voter and homeowner
From: Kiki Young
To: [email protected]
Subject: Privitizing our library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:38:53 AM
Dear City Council Members,
I am greatly opposed to your plans to privitizing our library system. Our librarians and library employees take great care with the operations of our libraries.
Learn from other cities failures after hiring
LS & S.
Sincerely,
Kari Dennis
From: Brittany Laurin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Save the Huntington Beach PUBLIC Library!
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:39:19 AM
My name is Brittany Laurin and I work at Central Library and I live in Huntington Beach. I have worked there for several years and in many capacities; as a Page, as a Literacy Clerk, as a Borrower Services Clerk, and as a patron. Through these many positions I have come to have a fair understanding of how our public library works. I've also come to know the team of brilliant and dedicated employees who work hard every single day to bring the best of what the library has to offer to the HB community and beyond. We have an award winning children's programs, we have one of the best used book stores in the state, we have FREE adult programming, we have a Makerspace that teaches the patrons that use it, we have a Veterans Resource Center to support those community members that have served us, we have a Literacy Department that is creating opportunities for adults to reach their goals. All of this and more is possible due to the team of sincere and invested staff.
I am ashamed to live in a city that would attack such a wonderful institution. This feels like an attack. Our own city council has decided to ignore the richness we bring to HB. Instead we have been called horrific names, villainized, and had our livelihood attacked.
We aren't just talking about privatizing the library, we are talking about taking away people's jobs, their ability to pay their bills, their health insurance, and their pride. Why would my own city do this to me?
It seems as though certain measures were unpopular and the public voted the way it saw fit. I thought my team of incredible coworkers would celebrate this victory, knowing the public was on our side. Now I see that there are those that want to circumvent their community by winning another way. "If we can't control them, let's destroy them." I would implore whoever may read this email to stand up for me, an employee and a denizen of Huntington Beach. I love working for the library and I would love to continue doing that in a positive, constructive, service-oriented way, with the support of our city behind us. Please support this great PUBLIC resource!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Brittany Laurin
Very concerned citizen and employee of Huntington Beach From: Jeff Lebow
To: [email protected]
Subject: Privatization of our library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:41:32 AM
How much will the private company pay the citizens of Huntington Beach for the opportunity to make profit off of our library? Will profits come from staff and program cuts? Which programs will be discontinued? Jeff Lebow
37 year homeowner and resident in Huntington Beach
Sent from my iPhone
From: Jenny Quatman
To: [email protected]
Subject: Library public
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:43:39 AM
We pay thousands of dollars to this city through our housing tax as well as local business owners tax and fees. We are raising our children in this city and chose a house next to a HB library because of all it offers to our local community and my children’s well being. It is unfathomable it is being voted to make our library’s private and for profit. Shame on this idea and everyone overbuilding our city for profit. Please keep this invaluable resource a public entity for those of us in the community that prefer HB a giving and fulfilling community that gives its residents ample opportunities for increased quality of life. My best memories are taking my kids to these libraries. Please keep them as is!!! Jenny Quatman
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Oppose ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM 22 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:46:35 AM
From: Tomi Simmons <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:24 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Oppose ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM 22 24-197
Good morning,
I STRONGLY OPPOSE the proposed MANAGED LIBRARY SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM 22 • ITEM 24-197
I strongly advise the council to not vote yes.
Tomi Simmons
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatizing our Libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:46:40 AM
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:28 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Privatizing our Libraries
Leave our Award Winning Libraries Alone.
As a 40+ year Huntington Beach resident, I have watched in horror, as this activist city council has embarrassed our beautiful city.
The citizens of HB love our Libraries and will show up in numbers to stop your privatization of beloved Libraries.
You have divided this city enough. Why don't you stop with your culture wars and start doing things the citizens of HB really need attended to?
Bethany Webb
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19, 2024 (revised the morning of 3/19/24) Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:14 AM
From: Larry Slonim <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:28 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Re: City Council Meeting Agenda for March 19, 2024 (revised the morning of 3/19/24)
To All Members of the Huntington Beach City Council:
(Please note my latest revisions are to supersede my earlier email dated 3/18/24 in bold black text)
We have been very concerned about the 4-3 vote by the City Council to put Charter Amendments A, B & C on the ballot for the Primary Election, and have been following to vote tally closely. As of Sunday, March 17th, with about 46% of the voters registered in the City of HB voting, the tallies for A & B have be trending Yes and the tally for C has been trending No. We strongly agree with the constituents voting No on C, primarily because it gave the mayor, ANY mayor, the authority to cancel and change Council Meetings at his or her sole discretion.
While the four new councilmembers (Strickland, Van Der Mark, Burns and Mckeon) regularly exercise a majority vote advantage, it's clear to me and my wife that they often decide to vote as a block too hastily, with superficial debate or consideration of dissenting opinions, whether coming from the other 3 councilmembers (Kalmick, Moser and Bolton), and/or from public comments made that are relevant to Council's agenda items. This is totally contrary to and blatantly hypocritical of one of the main reasons, if not the KEY reason, they claimed and continue to claim that the prior City Council was not responsive to the concerns of all its residents.
Since the four new councilmembers have taken office, deference, respect, honesty and trust has suffered badly and continues to get worse. Any reliance in them and the City Attorney to responsibly steer our city has been greatly compromised. We strongly urge the four of them to modify the course they are currently on.
Lastly, we think that the current Administrative item 23 (24-195) Approval of FY 2023/24 Revised Budget, and Ordinance for Introduction item 24 (24-209) Ordinance No. 4318, scheduled for the meeting of March 19th, be DEFERRED until the first meeting in April, to provide proper time for a more reasonable understanding and evaluation by the public and the other council members of the details and potential impacts contained within them.
A glaring case in point is that it's now been established beyond any reasonable doubt that having "more secure" municipal elections, regardless of their purported costs, will not produce safer elections than have been won in 2022 and with the likely approval of Charter Amendments A & B in 2024. City run elections would clearly be an added burden to the City's proposed revised budget and are NOT needed! Certainly not at the expense of selling off our public library system to fund them, or by cutting other, more needed city services! Our four new councilmembers have to SEE that, and truly appreciate that reality. Otherwise, the legacy they create for our city will very, very grim.
Respectfully,
Larry and Susan Slonim
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: No library privatization
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:17 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Black <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:33 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: No library privatization
Hello City council,
I have lived in Huntington Beach most of my life and have always loved our library resources. I’ve recently been informed of the city council’s plans to privatize our library (managed library services, administrative item 22, item 24-196).
To say this is a disappointment is an understatement. I strongly oppose this move. Privatization of services never results in saved costs. If the goal is to be able to police books in our community, I think we can let parents do that.
Or just don’t read a book you find offensive.
If this is an effort to save the city money, why not look at ways to bring more funds into the city, like taxing short term rentals. Or reducing the lawsuits we keep bringing against the state.
Again, I strongly oppose the privatization/managed services of our libraries. Please leave them alone.
Thank you,
Amy Black
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library Issue
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:21 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Harvey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:38 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library Issue
I oppose privatization of the library. That is a ridiculous concept.
I have been a HB homeowner for over 22 years. No other previous City Council put forth such a shortsighted proposal. Please reconsider.
Deborah Harvey
Sent from my iPhone
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Item #22
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:25 AM
From: kate healy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:39 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Item #22
I am against any consideration or move to the privatization of our library system.
-home (20+ years), property (40+ years) and business owner (76+ years) in Huntington Beach -Kate H.
...
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Library Advocacy
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:45 AM
Attachments: Outlook-fjnsq0uz.png
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From: Brenes Erica <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:42 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Library Advocacy
Hello HB City Council,
I am native to HB, and that means I grew up visiting and loving the HB library.
Outsourcing the library to a hedgefund that does not know our community or feel committed to its growth and education is a poor choice, and I hope you choose instead to respect and maintain our library. It remains one of my favorite HB institutions and I still regularly grade papers there and take my children for theatre performances and story time. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Erica Brenes (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor, English
Co-Coordinator of New Faculty Learning Academy & Equity Minded Teaching Institute El Camino College
Want to meet with me?
Join me on Zoom Thursdays 10-11 or visit me during in-person student hours at Humanities 321P Tuesdays 10-11 and Wednesdays 1:45-2:45. We can also schedule 1:1s around your calendar!
In need of emergency psychological support?
If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not— please call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7. And if you are an ECC student, reach out for support services at our Student Health Center.
"When teachers teach with love, combining care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect, and trust, we are often able to enter the classroom and go straight to the heart of the matter, which is knowing what to do on any given day to create the best climate for learning." bell hooks
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:47:48 AM
From: Stewart Brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:46 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: libraries
Again, leave Benjamin Franklin's idea about a publicly funded, non partisan run public library alone.
It's worked well for 250 yr + .
If there is issue with the library materials then find a certificated librarian that agrees with the town council on viewing criteria and safeguards.
--
Stewart Brown
From: Tyler Bowlin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Do NOT Privatize Library Services
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:49:42 AM
Hello,
My name is Tyler Bowlin, and I am a lifelong - 36 year - resident of Huntington Beach. I was born and raised in Huntington and benefited from the wonderful library services at several locations throughout my childhood. In 2020, after graduating law school and working as an attorney in Northern California for several years, I moved back to my hometown of Huntington Beach and was lucky enough to purchase a home in the city. I moved back to start and raise a family in what I consider a wonderful city - Huntington Beach. My children, 3 and 1 years old, love the library and the services provided. I see absolutely no reason to privatize what is already a great service for the residents of Huntington Beach. I am conservative. This is not political. Despite my political affiliations, I vow to vote for the opponent of any City Council member who votes in favor of privatizing the City's library services. This is simply a step too far.
Respectfully,
A concerned father, resident, and political donor, Tyler Bowlin.
From: buzz mccord
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Privatizing the Library. NO
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:51:27 AM
No matter what sophistry (wriggle words) you may use, you are wasting time and money with your RFP to "study" privatizing (insert wriggle words) the HB library system.
The library is not broken. Your "descent into madness" (OC Register) since January 2023 is broken. Look in the mirror for understanding.
Buzz McCord
HB resident.
BCC: maillist
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Please vote against Privatization of our library Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:51:50 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: James Reed <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:51 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Please vote against Privatization of our library As a concerned resident citizen of Huntington Beach I urge that you Please vote against Privatization of our library! Thank you
Jim
Sent from my iPhone
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatizing the Library. NO
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:51:58 AM
From: buzz mccord <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:51 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]>; supplementalcomm@surfcity- hb.org
Subject: Privatizing the Library. NO
No matter what sophistry (wriggle words) you may use, you are wasting time and money with your RFP to "study" privatizing (insert wriggle words) the HB library system.
The library is not broken. Your "descent into madness" (OC Register) since January 2023 is broken.
Look in the mirror for understanding.
Buzz McCord
HB resident.
BCC: maillist
From: Mary Ann Celinder
To: [email protected]
Subject: HB libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:52:27 AM
What benefits are there to the public for changing the library control? If it is run for profit, we will see a cut in services, quality of the workforce and a reduction of the number of books purchased annually.
The Four already tried to shut down our branch, surely it will be on the block if this passes.
This is an overstep. Onec council should now be able to screw up the city so quickly with your temporary power. The Four are an embarrassment.
Moving perfectly great books for the children's section was already way out of control, especially without providing any guIdelines to the librarians.
What's in it for the city council members who are putting this forward? Campaign contributions?
What is next, privatizing the police and fire dept?
NO!
Mary Ann Celinder
Celinder's Glass Design
21341 Fleet Lane
Huntington Beach Ca 92646
studio 714 962 8361
cell 714 504 8361
www.customleadedglass.com
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Keep our Public Library Public
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:52:47 AM
From: K B <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:52 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Keep our Public Library Public
It’s our CommUNITY library. Public Library—public, since 1928.
We must not allow anyone to sell our Library to a for profit company based on the East Coast.
I lived bi-coastal. Completely different worlds, culturally, let’s start there.
Seriously, what do they know about our culture here, on the West Coast in Surf City. We love our City, we are proud of our public non profit Library!
Just the other day, I took my Uncle, who is 84 years of age, to walk in Central Park after his emergency surgery. He found the architecture of our Library stunning as he walked along the creek with the huge trees, the reflections of nature Art, the Cherry Trees, everything so beautifully planned with well thought out plans for the commUNITY of our City residents.
Just the other day, I spoke with tourists who were impressed with the Library facade. I happily shared how incredible our Library is, and they were excited to head over there to explore as they were considering relocating here. It was their second day in town after arriving and they were exploring our park. What a bummer it would be for tourists to go to see a for profit private library, after they see the many labors of love that surround it.
For them to see empty bookshelves, such as Escondido’s library. A tragedy. Everything about the land, what was planted there - from gardens to programs - it all surrounds and encompasses the Library. Most important, our public Library is where we all Vote in our elections. This space, it is all about US. And, I don’t a private for profit company handling or supervising my Vote.
Consider the Seed Library, that is a labor of love. The program is physically supported by the labor of our HB students who need to work off hours. What an incredible program that provides the seeds for native plants for our natural habitat and the seeds are gifted by a supportive vendor! Most importantly, the students are in a positive environment and giving more to the community with their labor with the seeds! When we work together, our City benefits. Good meets good! When a for profit organization wants to contribute, we have good work that benefits a good work, that benefits our City. A Community win/win. Certainly, a for profit company would lose money and nix the program that currently benefits our lands, our community and our youth.
The for profit company cares about the profit. Nothing wrong with that at all. However, EVEN in a contract, THE HEART of the program will no longer will be there. The development of relationships, trust, common goals, it’s all about UNITY, our Community, our City. One last thing, the conditions of the Escondido library is not just concerning, but frightening. We are at a time when quality education is declining. Images being reported of once brimming shelves of books are barren.
We want to provide educational information. Books that may not be readily available to read, or easy to find, scholarly research for students, old books from another era with a different cadence, the ability to walk the Library aisles, touching the book covers, scanning row after row when suddenly, one book shines and that is the one! I love the memory of taking my children to the library and we each picked a book, sat in a nook and we each read our books as we sat together. Keep our HB City Library Public! Keep our HB City public library public and available, as the incredible resource that it is to all of us and our neighbors. Our children’s and their children’s future are counting on it.
No, to privatization.
Ms. Lingan of Huntington Beach
From: Mark Spangrud
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: STOP to Privatize our Public Library.... PLEASE Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:52:53 AM
To My City Council,
Please do not Privatize our Public Library! I speak for many long time residents in Huntington Beach with families that have used our Public Central Park Library for two + generations. We have been very proud of our Library as it is was for our children and now for their children; even to this day as adults. This is a Public Library, meaning our tax dollars make all of us part owner and we do not want a private company that is looking at profitability goals , which will change a great Library with it's great programs into something much less. As well as losing all control of what our Library is today.
We feel as part owners that we should have a say into what happens to our Library and you as our elected City Council should listen.
Sincerely,
Mark Spangrud
5611 Ridgebury Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
From: Levin, Shannon
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: Privatizing the library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:55:04 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Ann <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:54 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) <[email protected]> Subject: Privatizing the library
I am writing as an HB citizen to strongly object to agenda item #22 to privatize the library! This is NOT in the best interest of the city or the citizens.
The city council should focus on areas of need for city instead on non issues.
Ann Ryan, Huntington Beach
From: Sandy de la Fuente
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:55:53 AM
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Our public libraries are treasured institutions that serve all members of our community regardless of their background, income, or social status. They are the heart of our neighborhoods, where we gather, interact, and connect. Where strangers become friends. They preserve our collective memory. They are not commodities, they are essential pillars of civic life.
Privatization of our public libraries threatens the very core of what makes our precious libraries valuable.
Say NO to privatization and yes to a thriving inclusive, and publicly owned Huntington Beach Public Library.
Sincerely,
Sandra de la Fuente
From: allyson cosgrove
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: LS&S Library Acquisition
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:56:20 AM
To whom it may concern,
I have to say that I'm disappointed to hear that the city is considering using an outside company to manage the HB Central Library and oppose such a decision. The library is a safe a place to all who enter it's doors, myself included and is one I consider my favorite place in the entire world from the time I was a small child. I'm sure there are others who feel the same. The staff go to extraordinary lengths to make sure that their patrons feel welcome and seen in a way that most of us don't get in our lives. This outside company will wreck all of that in a way that will damage the goodwill that the library has within the community for generations to come, so I hope that you will reconsider using them.
Thank you for your time,
Allyson Cosgrove
From: Erin Johnston
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: March 19, 2024 Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:56:22 AM
Good morning,
I am a 14-year resident of Huntington Beach with two children in our elementary schools. We are daily users of our library and could not be more impressed with the library services. Our city residents share this sentiment, as noted in the “2023 Quality of Life Community Survey”:
-
“Particularly high satisfaction with water reliability, fire protection and paramedic services, special events, library services, and 911 emergency response”.
Given such high satisfaction with the library services as they currently exist, I am writing to advocate against the Agenda Items below.
Agenda Item 24 Community-Parent Guardian Review Board for Review of Procurement of Children’s Library Material
During the 2023 Strategic Plan Workshop, held on June 8, 2023, City Council identified 8 goals and priorities for the Fiscal Year 2023-2027 Strategic Plan: 1) High Performing Organization; 2) Fiscal Stability; 3) Public Engagement; 4) Public Safety; 5) Homelessness; 6) Infrastructure Investment; 7) Housing; and 8) Economic Development.
This Agenda Item does not address any of these stated goals or priorities. It should therefore wait until the next priority-setting session to avoid diverting city and community resources from our goals and priorities as established in the Strategic Plan.
Agenda Item 22 for Managed Library Services
Given the high resident satisfaction with our current library services, I propose we analyze other areas within the Budget for cost reductions before looking to change library operations.
In the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan workshop, the following were listed as opportunities to boost our fiscal stability:
- Undertake a new cost of service (fee) study and cost allocation plan - Update Developer Impact Fees to ensure new development is paying its fair share - Implement centralized contract management system - Develop a long-term vehicle replacement plan - Review General Fund reserve levels using the Government Finance Officers Association Risk Analysis Template
- Consider options for new revenues
- Restart Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Utility User
We should review those as priority over library services. In addition, we should rationalize our city headcount, as it has grown 2% since the 2021-2022 Budget Year (+22 headcount) while the city population has decreased 3% in this timeframe (-5,311 residents).
Regards,
Erin Johnston
From: Rob Koepp
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Opposed to privatizing HB public libraries
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:57:49 AM
Hello,
I have lived in Huntington Beach for over 40 years. For numerous reasons, I am opposed to privatizing the city's public libraries.
Best regards,
Rob
Robert W. Koepp
(「⩀ⳍ | ϩόʔτ • ίοϓ)
+1.562.279.3527
About
From: Carryl
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Huntington Beach library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:59:03 AM
Do not privatize our public library in Huntington Beach. This was built by the people for the people. Hands off!!! Carryl Hytopoulos
4112 MorningStar Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Sent from my iPhone
From: Akemi Royer
To: [email protected]
Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:59:29 AM
Dear City Council Members,
I am a lifelong HB resident and I work as a literacy program specialist at Huntington Beach Public Library.
The Adult Literacy Program has been thriving for 40 years and has served thousands of adult learners with the help of hundreds of volunteers. We currently have waitlists at both Central Library and Oak View Branch Library.
If the library is privatized, we will no longer qualify for our full grant funding of $95,574 (which is not part of the city budget). Funding for literacy will go down. We will have to turn away many adults who seek help with their reading and writing, English language skills, earning a high school diploma, preparing for the citizenship exam, and much more.
You have the power to change lives. You have the power to decide whether or not individuals will get help with their literacy skills. The decision is in your hands. Oppose item #24-197.
If you have any questions about how our literacy grant funding qualifications work, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Akemi Royer
From: Dina Chavez
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Oppose Agenda Item 24-197
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 8:59:54 AM
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my fervent opposition to agenda item 24-197. Privatization of our beloved Huntington Beach Public Library is unacceptable, unnecessary, and unwelcome in our community. The HBPL is the jewel of our city and an institution we should all value and support. Interesting that a council majority claiming to be for local control would be so eager to turn over control of our beloved public library to a for profit company funneling our tax dollars away from the City of Huntington Beach.
Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate your priorities and begin to care about our City and the people in it and stop relentlessly pursuing attacks on our beautiful libraries.
Sincerely,
Dina Chavez
From: Dr. Heine
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Against Request for Proposal to outsource the Huntington Beach Public Library Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 9:00:08 AM
Importance: High
Hello Huntington Beach leaders,
While we understand many of the current concerns related to the Huntington Beach Library system, our family of four adults is emphatically against outsourcing the management of the library. The library means so much for our family and believe that giving control of the library to an outside entity would be a huge mistake. Please keep the library what it has been for over 100 years: a valuable community resource that is overseen and supported by our community and its leaders.
Thank you for your time,
Barb, Phil. Luke and Mark Heine
From: STEVEN WELLS
To: [email protected]
Cc: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF)
Subject: Privatizing Library
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 9:00:12 AM
Dear HB City Council,
I am against the attempt to privatize the library. Period. Free public libraries have a long history in the US. They give people a chance…to read, to learn, to grow. People of all ages need this opportunity.
Privatizing always results in lower quality personnel, no benefits for the people working there, lower quality of service. But, the profits will drive up stock prices, at the cost of the city.
I wish I had more time to tell you my story about spending time in the library as a child, the Santa Ana Public Library. A poor kid who got to spend hours at the library, reading, studying. I went to public schools in a terrible school district. And, because of books, was able to go to college (paid for by myself), get several degrees including a PhD in chemistry. Libraries were responsible for a significant portion of that.
Thanks for keeping our libraries as part of our city.
Steve Wells