The Kaufman Branch Library in Brentwood has played an essential role in the life of this community since it was established in 1948, but now it faces the most serious threat in its history. On March 8, vote Yes on Measure L to save the Brentwood Branch.
As City Librarian, I had the good fortune to work with the Brentwood community and communities throughout the City of Los Angeles to build libraries and to expand library services and hours. In 1994, the beautiful, new Donald Bruce Kaufman Brentwood Branch was built. The Kaufman-Brentwood Branch Library became the heart of the community because of you — the people who use and support it.
Last year at this time, Brentwood was open 6 days, 4 nights a week. In July 2010, Los Angeles Public Library hours were slashed as a result of major cuts in the library budget to 5 days, 2 nights a week. Brentwood is closed on Monday. Many morning and evening hours have been eliminated. Central Library and W.L.A. are no longer open on Sunday.
Senior citizens on a fixed income come to Brentwood check out the latest best sellers. VA veterans use the computers to search for jobs and write resumes. Parents bring their children after school to do homework. College students from UCLA write research papers using the online databases. Persian patrons check out books and DVD’s in their native language, Farsi. Vision impaired people and travelers listen to books on CD supplied by the library. DVDs are checked out by everyone, especially after the local Blockbuster closed.
A Yes vote on Measure L by voters will restore 6 day a week service at Brentwood and all neighborhood libraries next year. Measure L provides long-term sustainable funding so Brentwood’s budget for books and electronic resources will improve, and staff will be there to assist you and your families.
Measure L is NOT a tax and doesn’t ask residents or property owners to pay more taxes or fees. Instead, it provides a small increase in existing city funds to the library; currently the library’s share is only 2% of the total city budget.
Vote Yes on Measure L to benefit our children and families in Brentwood and across the city.
Fontayne Holmes, City Librarian
2004-2008
fontayneholmes@att.net
