CITY CONTROL FOSTERS BETTER LIBRARIES.

Byline: JAMES BEMIS

As an insatiable reader, frequent visitor (I carry four library cards in my wallet), and former library worker, I have an abiding interest in the current controversy over whether the city of Simi Valley should run its own library, breaking it out from under the county's umbrella. The answer to this lies clearly before us, as easy to read as a preschooler's text.

It is no coincidence, that the two best libraries in Ventura County are in Oxnard and Thousand Oaks. Oxnard's library is one of the prettiest buildings around, its stately red brick exterior brightening the drab downtown. Inside, a large atrium gives it a grand and airy feel. For those in search of older books, Oxnard's collection is the county's finest.

Thousand Oaks' problems with its library building are well-noted. Somehow, you always feel the need to call and make sure they haven't moved again. Still, it has an upbeat, fun, almost festive character and a good modern book collection. I've never warmed to the idea that libraries should carry videos; nevertheless, Thousand Oaks has our area's best selection.

The two best libraries share one thing in common - both are ``city libraries,'' operating outside the county's branch library system. None of the county libraries compares to these two.

Recently, conflicting consultant reports have provided fodder for both sides. Simi Valley's consultant claims that the city could save $300,000 annually by withdrawing from the county system. The county consultant found that by a few changes here and there (along with a countywide sales tax), branch hours could be extended and service improved. Hence, no need for any branches to go independent. (Interestingly, the dueling consultants' findings each conformed to their client's predisposition.)

Well, we don't really need a consultant to tell us that a city library would be better managed with more responsive service. Why? It's a simple principle called ``subsidiarity,'' a notion our Founding Fathers knew well, but which we have forgotten, much to our woe.

``Subsidiarity'' is defined as a doctrine that ``functions which local organizations perform effectively, belong more properly to them than to a dominant central organization.'' Our whole federal system of government was based on the theory of subsidiarity, with only certain specific powers delegated to the federal government, all others thus reserved to the states and the people.

The Founders recognized that problems are better solved by those who have to live with and pay for the solution. This is the essence of self-government.

Most of our current national problems result from the loss of control over our communities due to the usurpation of local control by the federal government in sort of a ``reverse subsidiarity.'' Turning common sense on its head, this means that those making decisions bear neither the cost nor the consequences of their actions. But that's another story.

The same principle operates at the local level. For years now, Simi Valley's City Council has fought the county's petty tyranny, begging for the scraps of a few more service hours or one more librarian from the county's banquet table. Small favors are granted and then taken away. Every few months, hat in hand, back goes the City Council, pleading for a return to the status quo.

It's easy to see that improvement can come only by placing control of the library with our city officials. If more service hours are desired, let Simi Valley residents pay for them. Want more libraries? Our City Council would have two choices - raise more money or reduce programs elsewhere. Subsidiarity does come with a cost, but as a self-governing people, we should be more than willing to pay it.

That's no guarantee that retaining local control over governmental functions will always result in wiser, more prudent decision-making. Any city council is apt to make mistakes or engage in folly. But at least their blunders will be limited in impact and are easier to right than those of the county. In other words, we should fight to the death for the right to make our own mistakes. It is better to have 10 little tyrannies in this county than one big one.