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LA County Library employees say purchasing shift would cut costs
Female student selecting a library book
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LA County Library employees say purchasing shift would cut costs
LA County Library employees say purchasing shift would cut costs
Employees at the 85-branch Los Angeles County Library system are in contract talks. Fearful of job cuts, they urged administrators to adopt a more efficient book-buying plan to save money. More on the story from KPCC’s Adolfo Guzman-Lopez.
Adolfo GUzman-Lopez: Until about five years ago, says Temple City reference librarian Richard Snyder, each county library branch was allowed to buy books depending on local supply and demand. He says that lately, the central office has sent his location trashy novels that will only gather dust on shelves.
Richard Snyder: One book is entitled Strong and Sexy, it shows the picture on the cover of a man and a woman, embracing, kissing, the woman has a very low cut top on. And then the other one, Vision of Seduction.
Guzman-Lopez: The L.A. County Library employs close to 2,000 full- and part-time workers. The employees’ labor union says the library could save $3 million a year by shifting purchasing authority to branches. A spokeswoman said the county librarian had no comment on the union’s cost-saving proposal.
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