The public library of the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, has taken tentative steps toward seceding from the county system.
At a November 10 city council meeting, Concord city staff recommended that the library explore the feasibility of a joint-use facility with John F. Kennedy University. Such a plan would necessitate authorizing the city manager to negotiate the terms of withdrawal from Contra Costa County Library. The staff also recommended opposition to any library funding measure that does not address Concord's need to expand and renovate its library.
According to the November 12 San Francisco Chronicle, Concord contributes more than $1 million a year to the system, but at least $320,000 supports libraries in less-affluent or less-populated regions, which would suffer severely without those funds.
Posted November 16, 1998.