Sylva Town Board opposes library move

By Rose Hooper

As county commissioners make plans to move the Jackson County Public Library to Southwestern Community College, Sylva Town Board members unanimously passed a resolution May 1 opposing the effort.

The resolution points out that maintaining the library in the central business district of a municipality is "essential to the viability of downtown revitalization" and provides an economic stimulus to the town.

Parents of school children can shop downtown Sylva while their children use the library for school projects, research and recreational programs. Seniors with limited mean of transportation find a library in the downtown area convenient for morning news and Internet access, the resolution states.

"The Sylva Town Board is strongly opposed to the move," said Mayor Brenda Oliver. "We are willing to work with the county commissioners in any way possible to secure a location within Sylva's central business district."

In addition to the resolution, town board members agreed to send a letter expressing their concerns to the county commissioners.

In meeting with SCC officials April 10, Commission Chairman Stacy Buchanan said it was his opinion that moving the library to SCC would be in the best interest of the county.

A seven-member study group formed last year has been reviewing operational costs and benefits associated with a joint library facility. While their analysis showed little savings in the area of operations, they did agree that a joint facility would increase services provided.

Sylva's library suffers space constraints, according to Gail Finley, director of the Fontana Regional Library System. The current library operates in approximately 6,000 square feet, but needs 20,000 square feet, she said.

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

Back to Archive: 05/08/03.