Library renews discussion of West End branch

After almost two years of discussion, the Long Beach Public Library’s board of trustees still does not have a proposal for a new West End library branch.

Last week’s board meeting, however, ended on an optimistic note, when trustees voted 3-2 to meet with the West End Neighbors Civic Association to discuss what residents would like to see at the facility in order to make it more successful than previous branches in the area.

“After what the West End has been through, it’s something we owe them,” board President Carol Arnone said. “We need to have people sit together, from your side and our side. We have to deliver a different service, and people recognize that.”

Hurricane Sandy flooded the previous West End branch, at 810 W. Beech St., destroying many of the books and materials it housed. After the storm, some trustees proposed closing the facility, saying that circulation had been declining steadily before the storm, and there didn’t seem to be a need for it. Although residents protested, claiming that inconvenient hours and ancient technology contributed to the lack of use, in February the board voted not to renew the lease on the facility, essentially closing it.

Trustees said they were not opposed to opening a new branch, but it needed to be done in a different way, so it would be successful and not a waste of money. They wanted a survey to go out to residents, but after months of back and forth between the board and the West End Neighbors Civic Association, the survey never materialized. Meanwhile, with the West End branch on hold, the Point Lookout branch was moved to a new, larger facility, prompting criticism from some residents.

At the Sept. 17 board meeting, trustees and residents agreed that the needs of the community should be determined before a plan could be finalized. While three trustees were in favor of moving forward with the project, two said they were unprepared to vote on the matter without more information and concrete financial details.

“We don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” said Trustee Warren Vegh. “If I’m going to spend your money, I’m going to spend it wisely.”