Opinion: Save the Library- From Mediocrity

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Since my last screed pleading for us to slow down before entering into a 25-year lease with the County to run our library at a cumulative loss of $50 million, some people have balked at my mischaracterization of how that money is spent. They argue that supporting a network of libraries throughout the county enables us to access a broad range of books that our smallish library can’t house. But really, $50 million to transport books from neighboring libraries by car? Has anyone audited the County on this expense, one that should be shared across all 30 libraries?

Let’s review this process. Say you want a specific title and our library doesn’t have it. If you’re savvy enough to use a computer, you can find out what branch has it, place a hold, and then wait five days for the magic call that your book has arrived by the ingenious invention known as a car. Wow, that must have been something back in 1950, when our roads were empty, gas cost nothing, and phones were a revolutionary device.
Today’s modern libraries digitize their book collections so you can receive them with a keystroke. And yes I know there are Luddites among us who romanticize the virtue of physical books, read by the fire with a blanket and cup of warm milk. I’m one of them. But we’re relics, and we need to accept that learning has transitioned to computers, laptops, and tablets. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate what a library can offer for free (and costs nothing), versus what it spends (and pollutes) to have physical books transported between branches.

And now, since we are exercising our option to purchase the library and be masters of our own destiny, don’t we owe it to ourselves to do a deep dive into what a modern library can and should be? Perhaps with highly digitized, comprehensive content across multimedia platforms of books, film, music, television, and art, and state-of-the-art media labs for kids to collaborate, learn, and perhaps acquire job skills.

Let’s start by asserting this location is hallowed ground for a multi-dimensional, community-serving learning center, and that the City Council should enshrine as our permanent library location without entering into a long term lease. Right now we have a ground floor that is used for parking and offices for the Chamber of Commerce. There is significant unused land. What if we reimagined that into a black box theater, a modular space that can be used for live performance, workshops and movie screenings. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful replacement for the loss of our sacred Laguna Cinemas (despite what Rivian promises to be a community focused space, let’s be real—they would not invest $20 million unless it was anything but a glorified showroom).

Now we could have the Barbara and Greg MacGillivray Theater, special screenings of their educational IMAX films, plus a healthy sprinkling of surf, mountain bike, environmental, independent and art house films. What a community-building void that would fill. Stroll up to the second floor and find an entire children’s library, an interactive learning center to stimulate and educate the next generation. A destination for parents with young children to spend the day learning to learn. The third floor would be for adults, and then how about a rooftop cafe? Now I know the word rooftop triggers the anti-growth, anti-tourist groups who believe anything that brings more people downtown is bad. But have you seen the view from the library straight out over lower Park Avenue to Main Beach? It’s stellar, with that row of mature ficus trees. What a great place to bring a book, take a load off, and enjoy the sea breeze with a spot of tea. Finally, there’s lower Park Avenue itself, once home to a wildly popular pedestrian-only experiment called “Park Plaza.” It was tranquil and shaded and served as the precursor to the Forest Promenade. Now it has returned to a sad pass-through for a few cars. Can we reimagine and make greater use of that space? Perhaps hydraulic bollards that can be raised when we want to close it for special events. How about a midweek evening farmers’ market (along Forest as well), a monthly community book exchange and giveaway, book readings and signings? We would be transforming a blighted area into something magnificent. Maybe the County can do this for us, but I doubt it’s in their bureaucratic wheelhouse. But with all the wealth, generosity and creativity in this town, I believe we would be better stewards. And yes you can still order books from other libraries through a nationwide system called the Interlibrary Loan program.

This is a once in a generation moment to conceive of a legacy project. Let’s slow this train down, and get the City Council to properly assess our options before entering into a long-term lease that could cause our library to further atrophy. I can’t imagine why this wouldn’t be a bipartisan action that would unite us all. Who wouldn’t want a better library? If you agree, let the Council know, or sign the change.org petition.

Billy hosts Laguna Talks on Thursday nights on KXFM radio. He’s also the CEO of La Vida Laguna, an E-bike and ocean sports tour company. Email: [email protected].

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Mr. Freud,
    I agree with you 100%! You visions of the possibilities of this community property is well worth exploring! Let’s keep our options flexible. Awareness is the 1st step to change!

  2. Great ideas, Billy!

    Our potential is unlimited to create (as you suggest) an environmentally conscious, pedestrian and bike friendly village filled with excellent resources, shopping, and experiences including a theatre, fresh markets, roof top and promenade cafes for socializing and reading, and learning areas for children…

    Here’s the stopper, a couple of small groups of citizens who use political super PAC funded means and attorneys to obstruct healthy progress. They even want to obstruct our ability to choose elected officials who will make informed development decisions on our behalf.

    This is the most divisive time in decades. Our rights to the liberty of freedom of healthcare choices, safety for our children from gun violence, environmental protections, the future of our very democracy, and more, are eroding by the day. I cannot imagine more strife. Pitting neighbor against neighbor for special elections on plans for new or remodeled projects sounds untenable.

    Parking is part of any community’s business plan. Certainly, off site parking, more shuttles, and walking/biking routes sound like they could use more attention. What we don’t need is more lawsuits that we taxpayers have to pay to defend on behalf of our city being sued by the small organized groups in Laguna who don’t want change, don’t want visitors, and want to keep the beaches and roads for residents only.

    Isn’t that what the super PAC name — Laguna Residents First — really implies: some benefit and others are not entitled to what we have? Reminds me of another recent political campaign that is continuing to implode as well as to erode our country with each passing day.

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