Computer Link to Library Urged for Warner Center

A Los Angeles City Council committee has recommended that the city seek $177,185 in federal funds to establish in Warner Center a first-of-its-kind link to enable Valley companies to tie in by computer to the downtown Central Library’s business information section.

By saving what for some companies is a 50-mile round trip to downtown, library officials said, they believe that more businesses would use the downtown library’s Business and Reference Department.

The full council, which usually follows the recommendation of its Grants, Housing and Community Development Committee, is expected to approve the proposal. Barbara Clark, principal administrative librarian, said the decision rests with state Librarian Gary Strong, who disburses California’s share of $100 million made available nationwide by Congress to improve library services.

Library Distant

Warner Center was selected because the growing business center is five miles from the nearest library branch and 25 miles from the Central Library. The Warner Center Assn., made up of businesses in the West Valley center, offered to provide free office space for the library facility.

The committee action comes in the wake of last Friday’s council decision to seek $420,000 under the same federally funded library program for construction of the long-delayed Platt Branch Library in Woodland Hills.

“Although the city has owned the site for this library for over 20 years, funds have never been available to build it,” West Valley Councilwoman Joy Picus said of last week’s action. “I’m confident that, at last, our dream of a new branch library will become a reality.”

The city is also seeking construction funds for libraries in Brentwood and Chinatown. Clark said she expects the state librarian to approve funding for only one of the three libraries.