CITY, COUNTY WEIGH LIBRARY STUDY FINDINGS : REVIEW SAYS SIMI COULD OPERATE BRANCH MORE CHEAPLY THAN COUNTY.

Byline: Christopher Noxon Daily News Staff Writer

An independent study into the cost of running the Simi Valley library shows that the city could operate the branch itself for more than $300,000 a year less than the county.

In comparison with the $1.3 million allocated by the county, the library could operate for $976,526 a year if operated locally, the city-financed report by consultant Ralph Andersen & Associates concludes.

Simi Valley could run the library for less by taking over such functions as personnel, janitorial, maintenance and other services contracted out at a higher cost by the county system, according to the report.

Mayor Greg Stratton said he is particularly disturbed by findings on the cost of processing books. The county spends nearly $100 per book on processing charges, he said.

``If that's typical of the county's overhead charge, it's no wonder we can do it cheaper,'' he said. ``There's all those people down in Ventura doing something we could do here for less money. The district is just too top heavy.''

The budget of the county system has been cut by nearly half over the past five years. As a result, the Simi Valley branch was forced to reduce its work force and hours of operation. The city government stepped in to fund 11 hours a week, plus an automated book checkout system.

Simi Valley actually gets a good deal from the county, said Library Services Director Dixie Adeniran. Even if the city could operate its library at the low estimate of $976,526, the revenue from local property taxes adds up to only $805,000.

If Simi Valley were to take over operation of the library, it would also incur such costs as buying the 150,000-volume collection, the building and its furnishings. The collection alone is valued at $3 million, the report says.

Simi Valley librarians say it is not clear whether the library would be better off under city jurisdiction after all the costs are tallied, including book acquisition and a reciprocal loan system.

``I'm leery because I see the benefits of the county system,'' said Dale Redfield, regional manager for the County Library Services Agency. ``When you add it all up, it looks like sort of a wash.''

County Supervisor Frank Schillo, however, says the most recent analysis shows the city could save enough to make it work.

``The Simi Valley study has proven exactly what I've suspected all along - a city can take over the operation of their library and still have money left over to increase hours,'' he said. ``The county is just not doing a good job financially.''

It is unclear what the impact on the county system would be, said Schillo, if Simi Valley decided to go it alone. The impact all depends, he said, on what duties city officials decided to contract to the county. The city would likely continue sharing in the purchase of books and periodical subscriptions, for instance. A county-financed study on the entire 16-branch county system is due to be released on Nov. 12.

Even some local library boosters say they are not clear whether breaking off from the county would result in better library service.

``We have to do everything we can to keep the library's head above water,'' said Bob Lipman, president of the Friends of the Simi Valley Library. ``There are a lot of good points for the city and a lot for the county, but we just want to make sure the library ends up the winner.''