Committee Floats Idea of Library Partnership

A city-appointed library committee is asking officials to contact their counterparts in the cities of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine and Santa Ana about forming a partnership to provide library services.

Costa Mesa’s two branches in Mesa Verde and downtown remain under control of the financially strapped county library system, and the council has voiced concerns about collection shortages and limited hours.

Last year, the council decided to stay in the system, at least temporarily, when the county extended hours and opened the branches on Sundays.

However, the council instructed its Library Services Committee to explore other options.

On Monday, the committee is expected to ask the council to write letters to find out what elected officials in the neighboring cities think about creating a joint library system. The letters would serve only to inquire about the matter, not to make a formal proposal, officials said.

Santa Ana, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach have their own libraries, while Irvine uses the county system.

In a related matter, Costa Mesa’s library committee also will ask the council on Monday to fund a $15,000 feasibility study by a private firm to determine whether the city’s libraries can survive without county funding.

City officials, however, have expressed concern about a private study because the committee itself was formed specifically to examine options, presumably without outside help.

“I am not sure we need a paid consultant to do the same thing,” said Councilman Joe Erickson. “I’ve got strong reservations about spending money on feasibility studies.”

Committee members were appointed “for their expertise,” he said, “and we are grateful for what they did. We now have Sunday hours as well as longer Thursday nights, based on their recommendations.”