SANTA PAULA : Library May Close for 3 Months in ’93

Santa Paula’s community library received another in a series of financial blows this week that could force the beleaguered library to close for three months next year, a library official said Friday.

The Blanchard Community Library Commission approved a $195,000 annual budget, but was forced to trim $20,000 from the library’s already lean spending plan and exhaust the library’s entire $50,000 fund carried over from last year.

Operating for six hours a day, three days a week, the library was spared further cutbacks in hours or in the one full-time and 13 part-time positions, Librarian Daniel O. Robles said.

“The bottom line is that we won’t have any money at all to operate come July 1,” Robles said.

Largely dependent on property taxes, the library would be deprived of funds until the first tax payments are made in December, he said.

Library commissioners plan to hold a fund-raiser before then to rescue the independent, 70,000-volume library, which opened in 1910. Failing that, the commission is exploring the possible closure of the library for three months beginning next summer, Robles said.

To bolster revenues that have been hit hard by state budget cutbacks, the commission also approved an increase in fees and fines for library patrons. The daily fine for overdue books will double to 20 cents, effective Dec. 1, with a maximum fine of $4.25 per book.

The library will offer a two-week amnesty Nov. 16-30 to allow patrons to return books without paying a fine.