Watch CBS News

Placer County Could Close Both Loomis And Meadow Vista Libraries

LOOMIS (CBS13) — A beloved library in Loomis is at risk of closing down, as the city says closing both the Loomis and Meadow Vista libraries is necessary to keep other libraries in the county open and up to date.

Members of the Friends of the Loomis Library Group are gathering signatures and have put up signs around town to keep the doors open.

But library services director Mary George says it may be too late.

"If we don't make a decision about these two libraries now and take a look at the entire structure, then we may not have a library system in Placer County," she said.

For more than three decades, the Loomis Library has provided books, Internet services, and even memories to people of all ages.

"People here remember bridal showers, they remember birthday parties in the community room. the elderly and retired come over here to read the paper in the morning," said Jan Chimera.

But come next month, the county may vote to close the book on it. George says there just isn't enough money to keep it running.

"We are spending way more than we are bringing in in tax revenues," she said. "We've been living off of our savings, our reserves for a number of years and our savings are just about depleted now."

She says library attendance has fallen by about 15 percent just this year, and the old building requires a lot of repairs.

"If we are going to have to invest, we might want to do that to facilities that are being more used," she said.

She says closing the library would save the country hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be put to better use to update the Rocklin library, a newer and more frequently used facility about 3 miles down the road.

Meanwhile, library users like Darlis Beale hope to rally the troops.

"There are other things that probably have some pork in it that can be cut, but libraries benefit everybody," Beale said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.