County, SCC discuss moving public library to Webster

Public hearing set for May 22

By Lisa Majors-Duff

During a meeting with Southwestern Community College officials last week (April 10), county commissioners further solidified plans to move the public library from downtown Sylva to the Webster college campus.

Results of a joint-use library study under taken by SCC and local and regional library representatives showed "much more compatibility than problems," SCC President Cecil Groves said.

SCC has been known in recent years for being the "first" in the state with regard to academic offerings, Groves said, and a joint public/college library would be no exception. While seven such combinations were identified around the country, no such facility has been undertaken in North Carolina, he said.

"We want the best fit for the residents of Jackson County," Groves said of the combined library proposal.

A seven-member study group - which included Jackson County librarian Michael Cartwright, Macon County librarian Karen Wallace, Deb Lawley and John Tyndall of Fontana Regional Library System, Nelda Reid and Dianne Lindgren of SCC's library and Gene Couch, vice president for instructional services at SCC - was formed in March 2002 after both the county and SCC decided their respective library facilities were in need of expansions. The group held approximately 10 meetings before issuing a report in October.

The group studied the operational costs and benefits associated with a joint library facility.

"While the analysis of the group showed little, if any, savings in the area of operations, there is a consensus that a joint facility would increase the services provided," the group wrote.

A review of policies and practices associated with checkout operations and late fees identified some differences, which the group said would be easily reconciled.

In addition to providing consumers and students with more to read during expanded hours of operation, a joint library also could provide meeting rooms, be highly interactive, increase SCC's food service offerings and expand the college's book store, Groves told commissioners. Such a facility, which would be positioned on campus with N.C. 116 frontage to make community residents more comfortable during visits, also could be eligible for grant funding, he said.

"We've been talking about a new library for Jackson County for seven or eight years," said Gail Finley, director of the Fontana Regional Library System. "This is the saddest library in the system. It's so far behind, and the citizens of Jackson County deserve something more."

Responding to those who would prefer to see the public library remain in its downtown location, Finley said, "I don't see this as an 'either/or' project. We could maintain a library presence downtown and a large library (at SCC). A downtown branch is a possibility."

Space problems have hampered offerings at the downtown library for many years, Finley said.

"We need 20,000 square feet, and you can't get that kind of footprint in downtown Sylva," she said.

The current library operates in approximately 6,000 square feet, has some 38,000 books and subscribes to 71 periodicals. Six full-time and two part-time employee serve annually 100,000 library users. On comparison, SCC's library is 8,000 square feet, 29,000 books and 250 periodicals. Two full-time and two part-time employees assist about 6,000 students and community members annually.

Senior citizens, Finley said, would be served "10 times better" with a new facility. "We've lost seating at this library, and it's loud," she said of the downtown facility.

"In my opinion, the best for Jackson County is moving (to SCC)," board Chairman Stacy Buchanan said. "Once the people are educated on it, I think they'll be comfortable with it."

A public hearing on the proposed move has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at SCC.

Back to Archive: 04/17/03.