The objectives of the Department shall be as follows:
A. 
To establish, facilitate, and maintain ample and sufficient programs and services for the harbors and beaches owned, leased and controlled by the City.
B. 
To operate and maintain all department facilities.
C. 
To encourage, foster, facilitate, establish and maintain systematized recreation, park acquisition and development, human, cultural and library services programs as directed by the City Council.
D. 
To provide information and assistance to department advisory boards, commissions, and committees as well as other civic groups related to community and library services as directed by City Council.
E. 
To cooperate with other governmental agencies and civic groups in the advancement of sound recreational, park, beach and cultural planning under the direction of the City Council.
F. 
To be responsible for human services, including direct service delivery as well as the enhancement of communication, cooperation, and coordination among agencies, organizations, and those individuals providing services to the residents of the City, such services to be offered on any part of the properties owned or controlled by the City or on any other properties with the consent of the owners and the authorities thereof.
G. 
To ensure that park property shall not be subject to continuous or exclusive use of any one particular or special interest group unless the membership of such group is open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
H. 
To be responsible for cultural services including both direct and indirect services delivery in the areas of municipal arts and museum/historic services by cooperative efforts with numerous cultural organizations for the enhancement of the cultural environment and economic viability of the community.
I. 
Assists in the educational development and cultural enrichment of the citizens of the community by providing access to library facilities, encouraging and fostering literacy, providing materials and information for the betterment of the community.
J. 
Provide, acquire, circulate, maintain and secure library materials and services including: issuing library cards, collecting fees, recovering overdue material, answering inquiries for the residents and visitors of Huntington Beach.
L. 
Develop comprehensive children's services and collections to encourage and promote reading and education.
M. 
Develop, maintain, and promote relevant library material collections by skilled, professional librarians. Utilize technology for efficient and effective circulation control, including providing library services in outlying areas through local library branches.
(4243-12/21)
The Director of Community and Library Services shall be appointed by the City Manager. The Director shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
Plans, organizes and directs programs and services in the libraries, beaches, recreation, parks, human services, and the arts and historic/museum services.
B. 
Directs and coordinates all activities and phases of operations within the Department.
C. 
Advises on acquisition, design and construction of recreational, beach, park, library and cultural facilities.
D. 
Ensures recreation, beach, park, human services, library, cultural, arts and museum needs are met and maintained within established framework, and executes policy, rules and regulations as established by the City Council.
E. 
Investigates and authorizes purchase of materials and equipment necessary to implement and operate programs.
F. 
Determines department policies and procedures.
G. 
Communicates program plans and activities to various City, intercity and community groups.
H. 
Directs the preparation of the annual budget, administers the approved budget and controls expenditures.
I. 
Serves as the City contact to the Department's advisory boards, commissions and community partners or appoints appropriate staff so to serve.
J. 
Reviews and approves purchase of materials, supplies, and capital outlay for Department operations.
K. 
Selects and evaluates employees in accordance with established procedures.
L. 
Directs the maintenance of the Department statistics, records and related reports.
M. 
Advises on the acquisition, design and construction of department parks, facilities, and open space.
N. 
Preserve the Library Bill of Rights by challenging censorship and affirming that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that library resources be provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of the people.
(4243-12/21)
The Director, with the approval of the City Manager, shall appoint all other officers, assistants, deputies, and employees of the Community and Library Services Department.
(4243-12/21)
The Department has authority to charge reasonable fees for use of City buildings, property, and facilities, and for participation in related activities to help defray public expense, subject to approval of the City Council.
(4243-12/21)
The Department may accept all gifts, devices, legacies, or bequests from any source, public or private, in the name of the City subject to the approval of the City Council. All monies so obtained by the Department shall be deposited by the Director or his or her duly authorized subordinate in the general fund of the treasury of the City or in any special fund the City Council may designate.
(4243-12/21)
Wherever the terms "Harbors and Beaches Department," "Recreation, Parks and Human Services Department," "Department of Harbors, Beaches, Recreation and Parks," "Community Services Department," or "Library" are used in this Code, or in any resolution adopted by the City Council, they shall be deemed to mean and read "Community and Library Services Department." Wherever the terms "Director of Harbors and Beaches," "Director of Recreation, Parks and Human Services," "Director of Harbors, Beaches, Recreation and Parks," "Director of Community Services," or "Library Director" are used in this Code, they shall be deemed to mean and read "Director of Community and Library Services."
(4243-12/21)
Director and Library Services shall establish policies for the selection and use of library materials, provided that such policies adopt the following requirements:
A. 
The library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.
B. 
Library materials shall not be excluded from the library collection because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to the creation of the materials, or because of the topic addressed by the materials or the views expressed in the materials.
C. 
Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.
D. 
The public has the right to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences.
(2025-49-7/1/2025)
No public library owned or operated by the City as of March 19, 2024, or hereafter owned or operated by the City, shall be sold, leased, exchanged or otherwise transferred or disposed of, nor shall any service provided by the Huntington Beach Public Library as of March 19, 2024, be operated or managed by a private contractor that employs library staff to achieve cost savings and/or any proposal that would change the wholesale management of any Huntington Beach library unless: (1) such service was outsourced to a private organization or operated pursuant to a managed services agreement with a private entity during any period from January 1, 2018 through March 19, 2024; (2) the City declares a fiscal emergency pursuant to Article XIIIC, Section 2(b) of the California Constitution; or (3) it is authorized by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the total membership of the City Council and by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the electors voting on such proposition at a general or special election at which such proposition is submitted.
Any contract to change the wholesale management or outsource library management and operations services to a private contractor entered into between March 19, 2024 and the adoption of this Section 2.30.100, shall be considered void or shall be immediately canceled to the extent permitted by law.
(2025-49-7/1/2025)