On December 13, 2016, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved a Lease Agreement for property located on S. Hill Road in Ventura for the Ventura County Library System. This location will establish a new branch of the Ventura County Library System to be located in the City of Ventura. A previous study of library operations in the City of Ventura completed in 2012 demonstrated a need for additional library services on the East side of Ventura.
The lease for this property on S. Hill Road came about after the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved funding in the amount of $200,000 annually in the adopted budget for Library operations on the east side of Ventura in June 2016. The Ventura County Library Director looked for a location on the East side of Ventura where existing resources could be used to supplement new resources to operate a new library, and identified a vacant office space of approximately 5,100 sq. ft.
This location was identified as a prime spot because it is on a bus route, has ample parking, is close to the Ventura County Government Center where many people come to do business, is on the East side of Victoria Avenue enabling residents and students who live on the East side to more easily walk to the library, and would allow the Library to take advantage of shared staffing resources. The close proximity to the Library Services Administration Offices has the benefit of allowing for staffing support from office staff as needed.
Additionally, the space was identified as a prime spot because it is fiscally feasible with the landlord providing needed tenant improvements. This facility will allow for providing library services, such as children’s early childhood literacy classes, adult literacy tutoring, access to computers and the Internet, and access to library collections, on the East side of Ventura.
Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Deputy Library Director says, “We are thrilled to get one step closer to providing expanded access to much needed library resources and services on the East side of Ventura. It is a great example of how we can reach more people and ultimately improve lives and communities with additional support and funding. Children growing up today on the East side of Ventura will now have a neighborhood library to help them explore, discover and connect with the world.”