It has been a hard year for our local library system. LA County has cut down hours that the library is open, totally taking away Sunday and Monday. The City of Santa Clarita went looking for options and decided to farm out our library to a for profit company, similar to what we do with our Police and Fire Departments.
The residents were not happy, but it went through and as of July 1st, we have a Santa Clarita Library system.
In order to use the library, we had to get new library cards. So I signed my husband and I up and we went in to get our card.
They had 10 different designs, which surprised me. All scenes of local areas, one of them had a beautiful photo of our local mountains. That is the one that my husband got...and then there was this one...
It is the fountain at our Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall.
Now, the first thing you see is that I was attracted to the water fountain. Hey, the girl is consistent in her likes. :-)
This area was also featured in an episode of The Unit called "Dedication", back in Season 1.
I loved how it looked, I loved the water and I loved the history of the place.
I made my choice and this lovely card is now mine.
I still carry a card for my local NJ county library system... it's just plain white (though now yellowed with age) with black text and a bar code sticker on the back. I signed the front and there are five raised digits which presumably identify ME. I see no date(s) listed anywhere on it, but I haven't used it in probably 25-30 years. If I recall correctly it was supposed to be good for life at the time I got it, but I suspect if I tried to use it now I'd be issued something new (though I have no idea).
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, I'm just wondering...
How/why does a "for profit" company operate a library? Isn't the concept of loaning out books for free kind of antithetical to making a profit? Will there be membership dues? Fees for special services (maybe internet access time, seminars) and programs (perhaps promoting general literacy or children's storybook hours and such) available through the library separate from the loaning out of books?
I do like the designer cards.
Hey there Dim Skip!
ReplyDeleteI truly have no idea how this company operates. From what I have read, they mostly come in when a City is in severe financial trouble and are the option of last choice. In our case, the city is thriving.
You can Google Santa Clarita and Library and stuff will come up. Most of it not pleasant, but the public was not asked our opinion and this is what we now have.
I have a Hicksville Public Library card (uncounted years old) and a LA County Library card (31 years old). :-)
Only in L.A. would they have such weirdness, oh well, why don't they get a "Library Cat" too, at least that would be good for the kids. I also think you should have left this one for a Monday's water post. And yes I still have my Hicksville library pass. have a good day. :-)
ReplyDeleteI KNEW you would say I should have held this one until Monday! LOL
ReplyDeleteTo this day I cannot think of the Hicksville Library without a picture of your Mom walking to the Bookmobile with a heavy load of books to return from the previous week. I still have my Hicksville card with the expiration of "P R" whatever that means. Glad that libraries have found a way to survive.
ReplyDeleteHey Tom, are we three horders, or what? LOL
ReplyDelete