Lobbying for more space

The Costa Mesa Library Foundation has lobbied for years to get a new library built in Costa Mesa, but progress has been slow. Tonight, the organization’s mission may move a step closer if it can convince the City Council that it should consider making a library master plan.

A survey of Costa Mesa residents, an analysis of possible library spaces and an estimate of the cost of a new facility would go into the master planning. Proponents of a new library say that with its population and demographics, Costa Mesa has far too little library space and its library offerings are slim.

“The reason our Costa Mesa libraries aren’t used as much as they should be is because they’re too small to house all the stuff they should have,” said Mary Ellen Goddard, a member of the Library Foundation’s board of directors.

The city has two libraries — one in Mesa Verde and one downtown — and a technology center. According to a study commissioned in 2000, both the amount of square feet of library space and the number of books in those libraries is below average compared with neighboring cities.

A master plan would be created by a hired consultant at a cost of about $100,000 to $150,000, based on a comparison of nearby cities that have done similar studies. The main expense, though, would be the actual construction of a new library. It probably would cost between $10 million and $50 million, Assistant City Manager Tom Hatch said.

“It would be difficult [to raise that kind of money]. It’s difficult in any economy. Those kinds of dollars are never easy to find. It would likely take a discussion with voters to ask if they would support some kind of bond for this in the future,” Hatch said.

Library advocates agree.

“In this economy it would be a tough sell. We’re not ignorant of that,” said Bruce Garlich, who is a member of the Library Foundation board.

Despite the increasing popularity of Internet-based book sellers, who often carry seemingly limitless selections and offer competitive prices on materials, Library Foundation members still believe libraries will have a big role in the future of Costa Mesa. And patronage of books is not the only service a library might offer, Garlich said, pointing out the lectures, musical programs and research help offered by the Newport Beach Public Library.

“Libraries are not a thing of the past. They’re going up all over the place,” Garlich said.

Costa Mesa City Council candidate Chris Bunyan has been outspoken in calling for a new library. Bunyan has repeatedly pledged to donate his entire salary, benefits and stipend that he would earn as a councilman toward the effort to establish a new library. Council members make about $12,000 annually. If they can prove they have their own health insurance coverage they can opt out of the city’s plan, cash it out and just about double their annual salary.

“New libraries add value to a city. They improve neighborhoods,” Bunyan said.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].