Wanted: Your Input On San Diego's Libraries Of The Future

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Brooke Ruth / News Producer, KPBS Midday Edition

Published March 29, 2021 at 1:09 PM PDT

A view of the San Diego Public Library, Sept. 9, 2016.

The San Diego Public Library Foundation wants the community to think about the future of its libraries.

The public library system has had to shift gears during the pandemic. Most libraries have been closed for months, with some open to only limited in-person services.

During that time, online library services have been expanded, more people are checking out e-books and library events, like book chats, are happening virtually.

Now, the San Diego Public Library Foundation wants the community to think about the future of its libraries.

The foundation is developing a new library master plan — a blueprint for how the city's library system will look and function in the coming years. There are currently 35 branches and the Central Library within the system.

The first step in developing the plan involved a consultant interviewing library staff and staff from supporting organizations, reviewing information about the library system and touring area libraries to make suggestions.

Now the library foundation is asking community members what they need and want from local libraries via an online survey. The survey is open until April 17.

Patrick Stewart, CEO of the San Diego Public Library Foundation, joined Midday Edition on Monday to discuss the future of San Diego's libraries.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Brooke Ruth

Brooke Ruth is a producer for KPBS Midday Edition. She previously served as a web producer at KPBS. Before joining KPBS, Brooke was a web editor for four newspapers and a local television station. She began her career in news at the Imperial Valley Press. She has also been part of the web teams at the Napa Valley Register, North County Times, and U-T San Diego. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at UCLA in psychology, she worked on the student newspaper, the Daily Bruin.

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