By Andrea Swayne
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on December 11 approved a new licensing agreement that will formalize the county’s relationships with nonprofit Friends of the Library groups operating bookstores at public branches countywide.
County Attorney Jacqueline Guzman on October 29 informed the Friends of the Dana Point Library board that the Dana Point bookstore would be closed, effective November 1, while the county worked on the project. The store was the only one in the county to be closed while the new agreements were being drafted and presented to the County Supervisors for approval.
County Librarian Helen Fried said that since a new board was set to be elected this month at the Friends’ annual meeting and due to the ongoing conflict between the board and former volunteers, the county hoped the closure would give the two groups and opportunity to resolve their differences amicably.
The new agreements set forth procedures, rules and responsibilities to ensure Friends groups operate in a consistent manner throughout the county library system, said Supervisor Pat Bates in her weekly newsletter update.
Letters were sent to all county Friends groups explaining the new requirement and advising the nonprofit groups that the contracts must be executed by December 31 in order for the bookstores to remain in operation on county property.
Fried said last month that once members of the new board and county representatives sign the license agreement, the county will authorize the Dana Point store to be reopened.
