FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The Fresno City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve a resolution opposing the privatization of Fresno County libraries, the latest development in an ongoing debate over the future of the county library system.<\/p>\n
Although only about one-third of county libraries are located within Fresno city limits, Councilmember Mike Karbassi said he authored the resolution to send a message to county leaders.<\/p>\n
“We have a responsibility to have open and free libraries. It’s part of the American system,” Karbassi said.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to experiment with our children’s futures, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” he added.<\/p>\n
The discussion comes months after a private company contacted members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors expressing interest in operating the county’s libraries and offering potential cost savings.<\/p>\n
“Because of HR one the big ‘BS’ bill there’s going to be a lot of hard decisions to be made at the county and there’s a private company out there that saying we can save $7 million by privatizing libraries. That’s a terrible idea,” Karbassi said.<\/p>\n
Late last month, a group of Fresno-area leaders gathered to oppose outsourcing library management, arguing that such a move could reduce library hours, close locations, and result in job losses.<\/p>\n
The following day, Fresno County clarified that the issue would not appear on the Board of Supervisors’ Oct. 20 agenda. Instead, county officials said the matter would be presented as a board briefing report available to the public.<\/p>\n
“I really don’t know what motivated the issue at the city of Fresno today to pass a resolution, again they’re an independent city. They’re welcome to do whatever they like,” Supervisor Nathan Magsig said.<\/p>\n
Magsig said he has not seen a report on the issue and has not communicated with any outside companies.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged the board has discussed countywide cost-saving measures but said a key reason no formal action has been taken is that several current supervisors are not seeking reelection.<\/p>\n
“It’s important to not make critical decisions as you have potentially the majority of the board, leaving in the next two or three months,” Magsig said.<\/p>\n
“For me, what I support is full access to the public when it comes to our library systems, they play a critical role in the development of our children,” he said.<\/p>\n
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