Library Services

Library Strategic Plan

The Library Strategic Plan Vision for the Future: 2012-2017 (see also the final Executive Summary) was adopted by the Ventura City Council on May 7, 2012. For more information about this project please contact Denise Sindelar, Community Partnerships Manager at dsindelar@cityofventura.net or 805-658-4793.

Documents and reports informing the process: Do you love books, ideas and technology? Ventura's citizens have been working diligently to help shape the future of Ventura's libraries. Over the course of the last 12 months community members have come together to share their concerns, hopes and desires for improving library services. The City working collaboratively with Ventura County Library Services have been working towards addressing concerns and making hopes a reality.

The Draft Library Strategic Plan was discussed at the April 24, 2012 Library Advisory Commission at 5:30 PM in the Santa Cruz Conference Room at City Hall. The report was available for review on April 19. On May 7, the City Council received the report, available by May 2 at http://www.cityofventura.net/meetings/council, and adopted it. See link above to view both the final document and executive summary.

Survey Results as of June 10, 2011

Consultant's Report to City Council June 16, 2011

Consultant's Request for Information (RFI) due August 15, 2011 Spreadsheet Attachment

FAQs (frequently asked questions) about the library strategic plan process

VIDEO OF: Special Joint Meeting of City Council and Library Advisory Commission on June 16

PowerPoint presentation made by Nancy Howe, Deputy Director, Santa Clara County Library

MEETINGS: The last meeting of the Library Strategic Plan Steering Committee was held on Wednesday, October 12th at 7:00 pm in the Topping Room at E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street.

On January 10, the City Council approved the Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultant services to conduct a library strategic plan. The City Council hired consultant Santiago Library Consulting to initiate the plan by October 1, 2011 for Council deliberation concerning future library service delivery options and providers. The first meeting of the Library Strategic Plan Steering Committee will be Wednesday, April 13 from 5pm to 7pm in the Topping Room in E. P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street.

Click here for more information about the RFP process
Click here for the Library Strategic Planning RFP

San Buenaventura Friends of the Library

San Buenaventura Friends of the Library (SBFOL) is an all-volunteer group, working to help Ventura's libraries serve the public need for knowledge and opportunity. For information regarding SBFOL, including becoming a volunteer worker, and/or making a tax-deductible donation of cash, please pick up forms at any library where you may also donate books for future sales. For more information contact SBFOL periodic book sales manager Chuck Carlson at 805.642.6084 or chucknsherrie@att.net. ###

Libraries and Hours

The City of Ventura has two public libraries: E.P. Foster Library (City Librarian Mary Stewart, 648-2715) and The Avenue Library (Library Supervisor Laura Paine, 643-6393). The libraries are administered and staffed by the Ventura County Library System. For more information on the Ventura County Library System click here.

Library Advisory Commission

The City of Ventura has a Library Advisory Commission - not related to the County Library Commission. The City Library Advisory Commission's purpose is to make recommendations to the Ventura City Council on issues related to libraries and library services. The LAC meets on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm in the Santa Cruz Conference Room.

Chair - Berta Steele

Vice Chair - Ron D'Incau

Commissioner Marianne Coffey

Commissioner Debbie Giles

Commissioner Erik Nasarenko

Commissioner Patrick C. Squires

Contact 805-658-4793 for the current staff liaison to the Library Advisory Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Closure of HP Wright Library

Click here for an FAQ about the closure of HP Wright Library

More information regarding library issues is available at http://www.cityofventura.net/public_meetings/LibraryAdvisoryCommission.

Library Vision for Ventura

Click here for the Library Vision adopted by the San Buenaventura City Council January 27, 1997

The County Library System

The County Library System consists of fourteen libraries in seven cities, plus unincorporated county areas. The System is governed by the Ventura County Library Commission. The Commissioners are City Councilpersons from the Ventura County Cities that participate in the County System, and a County Supervisor who represents the unincorporated County areas. Mayor Bill Fulton is the City's representative on that Commission. The mission of the Ventura County Library is to meet the general reading, lifelong learning and informational needs of the people of Ventura County, with special focus on children, youth and families. Jackie Griffin is the Director of the Ventura County Library System.

Ventura County Library
646 County Square Drive
Suite 150
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 477-7331
Ventura County Library website