Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Book Blues in Beverly Hills: Library to Take 10-Day Break

bevhillslib-computers.jpg
Patrons use the computers at the BHPL (Andy Sternberg/LAist)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Budget woes and book blues aren't just striking Los Angeles County's extensive library system, they're also forcing the library to take a break in a community largely considered one of the more affluent ones in the region: Beverly Hills. "The Beverly Hills Public Library will be closed starting Dec. 24 for 10 days as part of a citywide furlough aimed at balancing the city budget," reports Beverly Hills Patch, explaining that the city's Vice Mayor said "that closing the library and other 'non-essential' city services has allowed Beverly Hills to avoid employee layoffs." Essentials, like fire, police, traffic, and trash services will not be affected.

Though the library typically closed on weekends during the holidays, being closed while local kids are on break during the week has caused some local parents disappointment, and others are saddened the area's unemployed will not have access to the facility's computers. The Beverly Hills Public Library will re-open on January 3, 2011.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today