ORANGE : Barrio Library Faces Summer Shutdown

The Friendly Stop, a library branch established in west-central Orange to reach the area’s Latino teen-agers, could close its doors next week for the remainder of the summer because of funding problems, city officials said.

Although the library received a Community Development Block Grant of $34,000 for fiscal year 1993-94 from the federal government, the city is not expected to have the money until mid-August, leaving the small branch without operating funds after Wednesday.

The library, at 615-A N. Lemon St., in the heart of the Cypress barrio, offers books in English and Spanish and homework assistance to its mostly teen-age patrons. It also offers advice about sex, drugs, jobs, gangs and health.

“This is summer, and kids have a lot of free time on their hands,” said Anthony Garcia, the branch supervisor. “This is where kids make decisions on where to go with their lives.”

City officials, while praising the center, have been less than sympathetic to its financial woes.

“They were advised about a month ago that the funding might not necessarily be here on July 1,” said Mary Ellen Laster, the city’s block grant and housing rehabilitation manager. “Maybe they should have budgeted accordingly.”

Supporters of the Friendly Stop, which opened in 1990, said Orange officials are taking a shortsighted fiscal approach to a long-term social problem.

“This city has a gang problem, and the Friendly Stop is a solution. It gives children a safe place to learn,” said Mara Brandman, a member of Friends of the Library. “What are we doing? We are going to get rid of it.”

Garcia said he won’t give up the fight just yet. Fund-raisers are planned to keep the branch open during the summer months, and Garcia is meeting with community groups to raise awareness of the Friendly Stop.