I have been a volunteer in The Library Shop, which was built especially for the Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library, for 10 years.
I do not support the city librarian, Mary Housel, or the city coming up with a requirement that was unnecessary until a control issue by the library arose. This librarian, who has only been in her position for five years, and the last almost two years has been overly critical of the Friends, was very receptive for the $50,000 donated to the library yearly.
The Friends of the Library did not decide to close the shop. Mary Housel made that decision with demands she knew could not be agreed to and then a 30-day notice to vacate. This was not in the interest of the library or the community of Santa Maria, which she has been hired to serve, but only her own motives/interests.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 6, 2018.