Taking libraries private

Despite protests from dozens of residents, Santa Clarita is poised to join a growing movement of budget-strapped communities that are turning over their libraries to private management. C.J.Lin in the Daily News.

The move, approved by the City Council in a 4-1 vote last week, was designed to save the city hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars by withdrawing its three libraries from the county system. But it left some residents fretting about a loss of service without access to the county's vast resources.

"Nobody complained about our library," said Barbara Cogswell, a resident of 15 years, who was among protestors advocating more research before the council made its decision.