Council Mtg.: 7/9/96                         Santa Monica, CA

TO:     Mayor and City Council

FROM:   City Staff

SUBJECT:       Appointment to Metropolitan Cooperative Library
               System Advisory Board

Introduction

This report recommends that the City Council appoint Arthur
Fisher to the Systems Advisory Board (SAB) of the Metropolitan
Cooperative Library System.

Background
The Metropolitan Cooperative Library System is the library
organization to which Santa Monica Public Library belongs. 
Thirty city libraries in Southern California belong to MCLS.  The
public library systems were established under provision of the
California Library Services Act of the State of California and
receive State funding to help support various library functions.

The governing body of each member library appoints a citizen to
the System Advisory Board (SAB).  The purpose of the SAB is to
advise and assist the Administrative Council of MCLS, recommend
needed services and programs, and evaluate services and programs
provided by MCLS.  The appointee is expected to be knowledgeable
of libraries in general and of the jurisdiction in particular.

Recommendation
Because the SAB meets only twice during the year, it is crucial
that anyone appointed already be knowledgeable about libraries
and preferably have some current involvement with the public
library in their community.  Staff recommends that the City
Council appoint Arthur Fisher to the System Advisory Board to the
Metropolitan Cooperative Library System.  Dr. Fisher is a past
president of the Friends of the Library and current Chair of the
Library Board.  Dr. Fisher has a thorough understanding of
libraries and their value in the community.  He is an outstanding
advocate for quality library service and would represent the
Library and the City well.