Local Politics · Fresno County
Fresno County Library Privatization Effort Effectively Ends
Fresno County officials will not privatize library operations after Library Systems and Services, the sole nationwide provider invited to submit a proposal, stopped communicating with county staff, according to a memo released Monday by County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland. The memo recommends no additional action by the Board of Supervisors, effectively ending this round of discussions initiated by Supervisor Garry Bredefeld. SEIU Local 521 members and residents spoke at Tuesday's board meeting at the Hall of Records urging continued opposition to privatization. The county library system is funded largely by Measure B, a countywide sales tax up for renewal in 2028, and Friends of the Library said they are exploring adding language to ensure funds remain restricted to county-operated libraries.