The Hunt Branch Library officially became a Fullerton local landmark back in November but now faces questions as to what the future of the William Pereira architectural gem will be. Before shuttering library services in 2013, budget cuts whittled the Hunt’s operating hours down to just two-and-a-half days a week while an early precursor to the Santa Ana Riverbed homeless encampment grew alongside nearby train tracks. It’s since been leased by Grace Ministries, a Korean evangelical church.
Judy Booth, public library director, prepared a report on behalf of the Fullerton AdHoc Library Committee to be presented before council this evening. It considers a tier of possible uses of the facility going forward. “The restoration and revitalization of this architectural treasure provides Fullerton with a unique opportunity to rebuild and strengthen a sense of community and belonging in our diverse and remarkable city,” the report begins with. “We envision the possibility of a renaissance of literacy, in its broadest sense, for Fullerton, our Education Community.”
In considering top priorities, the Hunt could be revived, in part, as a children’s library complete with related story time, poetry and drama programs. Other literacy possibilities include hosting ESL classes in partnership with the North Orange County Community College District and teaching local history with Center for Oral and Public History interns from Cal State Fullerton providing lessons. Council members will mull museum possibilities including a possible partnership with Norton Simon Art Foundation–which would bring the Hunt full circle; the library came as a gift from the foundation in 1962 when it was known as Hunt Foods Charitable Foundation.
The Hunt may also become home to a community center offering social services. The report notes that the Fullerton Alanon Club is interested in leasing the space as is the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Relief, an Anaheim-based nonprofit that’s bulging out of its current location.
What the committee doesn’t support for the Hunt’s future is turning the building into any kind of homeless service center or negotiating a deal with a private business.
In mapping out the next chapter for the local landmark, the committee suggests city staff open up a request for proposals (RFP) process with a June 30 deadline. Potential revenue sources for whatever comes the Hunt’s way include a parcel tax and corporate foundation grants.
Fullerton city council formed the committee last May to explore uses of the city-owned property, including a library. Five council members appointed a person each to the committee, who, in turn, selected four more people through an application process. Booth also serves on the ten-member board by virtue of her position as public library director.
What action the council takes remains to be seen. In September, city staff estimated the annual cost of running a children’s library in a subset of the space to be $357,000. In a meeting last August, councilwoman Jennifer Fitzgerald actually asked the following question: “Should we be in the library business?”
Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!
No you should be in the politician buisness you have alot nerve to break histiorical law and I’m I’ve the Hunt family defendant and you are a anti American support in which you need to deported and impeached and get out orange county you Racketeering no good corrupt politicians of of background search of why you made the.decisions to shut the Hunt library down along Mexican council that we fought in many wars against Americans I myself will back and exposure each and everyone and see to it that you never work in of again stay off our beach Huntington Beach because your the problem of eldery and children that made being shot murder hostage held and your gonna pay through God for evil ways that s fact I have had with you corrupt politicians putting money by the pioneers that built this country in your pockets which impeacheable by any public official.
I meant to say we fought many wars for American and gave alot of money to the community in which you take and dont honor our library our history you see how its looking now when the people you dis honor that was charitable and you close our library’s so you can be in the ghetto business and you can be in the dying by gang business and actually if we take our Hunt name out and all the people that gave to this state you can be out of business stupid bitch and it can be like where you left from and that would be have nothing business ok hey Fullerton kiss my Hunts food money good bye and what business you in now anti American maybe the idiot business where who’s gonna give to you now the cartel .
I meant to say we fought many wars for American and gave alot of money to the community in which you take and dont honor our library our history you see how its looking now when the people you dis honor that was charitable and you close our library’s so you can be in the ghetto business and you can be in the dying by gang business and actually if we take our Hunt name out and all the people that gave to this state you can be out of business stupid bitch and it can be like where you left from and that would be have nothing business ok
Hey judy Booth is that your real name and you related to that murder john wilks Booth
Maybe you should be in the Hunt oil business or maybe you should be in the no money business or maybe you should be in the corruption business or maybe you should get rid of the Hearst and the Duncans and the Rockefellers and maybe you do away with the vanderbelts you can afford the orange county real estate can you Booth you have alot of homeless people in the oc in which I dont think your family built but alot of crooks from there like make it the Keith Hoover building he will be out of prison after ripping off the elderly that contrive alot of money to the oc and why dont you give be self supporting since you built it like the Hunts of built it all hey judy is that your real name or and or maybe your in the wrong business of your not in any business without Names like Disney or Dump ass like William whittemore and Donald Douglass and my family like Dorothy Buffums Chandler and you know the have it your way shipping business and restraint business maybe we should be in the betrayal business what you say Jusy Booth we just be In the shoot the Lincoln in the theater business but who’s gonna built the theater judy you ?? I’m just saying do you need the the pier they built or do need electricity business grab a tent judy cause your really not on the forbes list of much are you.