Grasping at Straws

_{Proponents of the massive and costly library are grasping at straws.}

Some community members and leaders in El Cerrito argue that our city’s library is underused because it is “too old.” The implication is that if only we spent $75 million or more on a massive and costly new facility, people would suddenly flock back in. But the facts tell a very different story.

The National Trend: Declining Library Usage

This is not an El Cerrito issue—it’s a U.S. issue. Over the past decade, library visits nationwide have dropped by nearly half (49.1%) according to data reported in Publishers Weekly. That decline spans across every type of community, from large cities to smaller towns.

New York: Visits down 47% since 2012 Los Angeles: Visits down 74% San Francisco: Visits down 65% Chicago: Visits down 66% Miami: Visits down 52% Philadelphia: Visits down 72%

These numbers make clear: declining foot traffic is not about the age of a building. It’s a broader shift in how people access information, entertainment, and services.

Shrinking Print Collections

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) also reports a steady decline in print collections. In 2022, U.S. libraries held 162 million fewer print books than they did in 2010—a drop of nearly 20%. Libraries are shifting to digital, streaming, and community services, not expanding shelves of physical books.

Why the “Old Library” Argument Fails

Proponents of the massive and costly El Cerrito library want residents to believe that usage is declining because our building is outdated. The evidence shows otherwise. A shiny new facility won’t reverse a national, decade-long decline in library visits.

What it will do is commit taxpayers to a forever tax of $300+ per parcel per year—at a time when many residents, especially seniors, are already struggling with housing and living costs.

A Smarter Approach

Instead of sinking $75 million (and likely much more) into a massive and costly project that won’t solve the real problem, El Cerrito should focus on:

Expanding digital resources that meet residents where they are, offering community programs tailored to today’s needs, ensuring libraries are accessible and functional, not oversized monuments.

The Bottom Line

El Cerrito’s declining library usage is not a reflection of its age. It’s part of a nationwide trend. Proponents of a massive and costly new library are grasping at straws, trying to justify a project that would burden residents for decades without addressing the real issue: how people actually use libraries in the 21st century.