Malibu’s Library Has Money In Bank, But No Branch In Western Malibu
Written by 991KBU on October 17, 2018
Malibu’s public library and its future goes before the Malibu city council next week.
There is $9 million or so in a LA County tax account … collected on Malibu’s behalf and designated for library services in Malibu.
In a recent survey of library patrons … 41% said they seldom visit the library … and it’s inconvenient location was mentioned as the most common reason for that.
The library is at Malibu’s decrepit Civic Center … the old County government complex at the eastern end of the city.
Since the bookmobile was canceled a decade ago … there are no library services anywhere close to the center of population in Malibu … which is Paradise Cove.
More than half the population lives west of there … but the library is not convenient.
Other respondents said the vacant County Courthouse at the Civic Center has attracted homeless people.
Some community members have told the survey that the new Santa Monica College branch campus may bring a critical mass of people to the location. But the existing library is hard to spot from the road … and has an entrance that is tucked away next to the abandoned courthouse.
It’s meeting room is too small … has a tired and worn outlook … and has a clanky ai r sysrem.
The lights and computer systems doesn’t work very well.
The bookmobile service to westwrn Malibu was discontinued when the eastern Malibu library renovation project proceeded.
Recommendations made to the City council include superficial changes in the library … suggest removing the old desktop computers and adding charging stations for personal devices.
Cost of the new library in western Malibu is estimated at nearly $8 million … but the study says there are cheaper alternatives to serve the center of population at the cities west end.
A “grab and go” location for collection pick-up and drop-off can be created.
Bookmobile service can be reinstated … or mayb a joint use with the santa Monica Malibu school district.
All this goes before the city council next Monday.
