OCEAN BEACH, CA. Went down to the Ocean Beach Library today, the old building at the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd and Santa Moncia Ave. It was around 1:00 and the place was busy. As you may know, when you enter the building, you find it has two opposing wings – on the right – the west side, is the children’s section and video shelves. Only a few adults mingled there – as it was during the school day afterall. However, in the other wing, where most of the adult books are, where the magazines, tables and computers are, it was packed. Not packed uncomfortably, but packed in a friendly way.
I met the chief librarian, Matt Beatty, who was behind the main counter. A friendly, serious guy, Matt graciously gave me some information about the branch. Matt told me that the OB branch has a yearly book circulation of 105,000 – which is nearly 9,000 a month. They had 18,000 visitors during the month of August, and they get 2,500 internet users every month. Matt also shared some history with me. After the main downtown library, the OB branch was part of the next four branches that were built: OB, La Jolla, Logan Heights, and University Heights. OB and University Heights are now slated for closure due to budget cuts. But the community is not taking this laying down. A rally is planned for Saturday, Nov. 15th at noon in front of the ol’ building itself.
wish is was in town so i could be at the rally! save the OB library!
I wish I could be at the rally today as well. We’re sitting in front of the University Heights library today having an impromptu rally of our own in conjunction with the book sale, this Saturday until 3 PM. Come on down to UH if the OB event ends before then — save all our libraries!
Good job, Steve, we’ll announce your rally at ours.