Readers Respond -- Parents express joint-use library concerns

As a 38-year resident of Newport Beach, an attorney and the mother of

four young children, I am writing to express my opposition to the

proposed new joint-use Mariners Branch library, as well as the misleading

efforts that are being made on behalf of the city and others to promote

the new library.

First, I am outraged by the Newport Beach City Council’s off-handed

dismissal of the serious and fundamental safety concerns raised by

parents of elementary school children. It has been confirmed by the city

librarian, as well as Mariners Elementary School’s principal, that

children will be allowed to visit the children’s section of the public

library (which will double as the school section) during school hours

without teacher supervision.

It also has been confirmed that the public will be admitted to the

children’s section of the library during those same hours. This creates

an unnecessary, unwarranted risk that should not be placed on the

shoulders of library staff and cannot be assuaged by video surveillance

cameras. How many “incidents” of harassed/missing/molested children must

occur before the City Council and school board take this risk seriously?

I am further outraged at the efforts that have been expended to

promote the new library -- without providing the public with accurate or

complete information about the impact the creation of a new library will

have on the area. For instance, most people with whom I have spoken

believe that the new library will be constructed in the existing location

on Dover Drive. They are unaware of the intended location -- on Irvine

Avenue, adjacent to the elementary school -- or the increased traffic

this will create.

Furthermore, they have not been told of the impact on the sports

facilities, including the fact that the tennis courts will be demolished

and not rebuilt. Moreover, the public has not been accurately informed of

the increased costs inherent with the proposed new library (including but

not limited to costs related to planning, construction, operations,

maintenance, security, personnel, insurance, etc.), most of which cannot

be covered by Proposition 14 funds.

In sum, as the parent of a child currently in kindergarten at Mariners

School, and three younger children who will attend Mariners in the years

ahead, I firmly believe that the proposed new joint-use library is

ill-conceived and unsafe, and the city’s impetuous rush to garner

government funds irresponsible. I only hope that the members of our

community charged with decision-making responsibilities will recognize

that the “free” money they are so eager to obtain comes at a price -- and

that price is far too high.

LAURA FORBES

Newport Beach

I am a parent of two children who have graduated from Mariners

Elementary School and of one child currently attending. Recently, I

agreed to distribute fliers to help promote awareness about the

fund-raising efforts for a new Mariners library. A funny thing happened

to me as I walked through our neighborhood. I spoke to about 40 people

about their views of a new library. Many said they would support a

library “renovation or rebuilding” plan, but most of the people were not

aware of the “joint-use” idea. After discussing the pending closure of

the on-campus school library and the safety concerns for Mariners School

children, only one of those 40 people still favored the “joint-use”

project.

The people fund-raising for the new Mariners library are not telling

the whole truth. They are not advertising this as a joint-use library.

They aren’t telling the public that the current on-campus school library

will be closed. They aren’t telling you that many parents are satisfied

with the materials offered at the school library or that the parents

appreciate the cozy environment of the school library. The school library

isn’t broken, why try to fix it? This isn’t in the best interest of our

children. It’s in the interest of the politicians who are frantically

grasping at Proposition 14 funds.

Library proponents say they have addressed the safety issues. They

will tell people about a safe, separate and secure children’s area. But

that won’t exist, because by law the public cannot be barred from the

public library. An adult wanting to check out a children’s book will be

allowed to enter the children’s area.

The fund-raising material indicates the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District’s support for this issue. Let’s hear from the teachers on this

issue. Who better to offer us advice of what’s best for our students than

the teachers who teach our children?

Many people don’t understand that this is more than just improving our

current library. It means the closure of the on-campus school library. It

means mixing our school children with the public on a daily basis. It

means the removal of the tennis courts, which according to the city

manager, will not be rebuilt. It means greater congestion on Irvine

Avenue near an already busy Mariners’ intersection.

Research shows that joint-use projects were designed mainly for rural

areas with few resources available to them and in conjunction with upper

grades. Many experts in the information services fields do not support

joint-use projects with elementary schools. I oppose the joint-use plan

and I encourage others to reconsider their support for this issue.

I suggest that we draw on the momentum generated by fund-raisers and

use the public interest and support to rebuild a new library on its

current site.

We wouldn’t lose the on-campus school library. We wouldn’t lose the

tennis courts. We wouldn’t have the additional traffic congestion on

Irvine Avenue. We wouldn’t have the additional worry each school day of

whether our children made it to or from the public library safely.

MEG HARRISON

Newport Beach

As a mother of two students at Mariners Elementary School, I am not in

favor of the proposed joint-use library because the children of Mariners

School will no longer have their own school library if this proposal goes

through.

I’m not sure about all of you, but as a child, I was quite fond of my

library day, my school librarian and the availability of age and

subject-appropriate material. I could read quietly and safely in the

privacy of my own school library. Most schools around the nation do enjoy

their own private school library.

This will change with the proposed joint-use library. According to the

plans, there is a very good chance that children will mix with the

general public and during school hours. It is worrisome enough during

times like these to take appropriate precautions with our children after

school without adding to it during school hours.

With the recent cases of convicted and potential sex offenders coming

into our community, we cannot be too careful these days. There are 12

known sex offenders in zip code 92660 alone. And just across the street,

67 in 92626; 95 in 92627. Convicted sex offenders and felons have the

legal right to be in a public library the same time as school children

are, and we are proposing this? Please consider wisely.

Let us consider upgrading facilities and security at the current

Mariners Branch Public Library without tearing it down. Use our money

raised toward this. Completely leveling the existing Mariner’s Public

Library seems like such a waste of something that is already working for

the community.

ANGELA ALBUS

Newport Beach