Joint town/county effort is good first step toward resolving library dilemma

Eight months after a contentious hearing at Southwestern Community College, Tuesday night's commissioners meeting produced the resolution that may result in easing the tension that has surrounded discussions of the future of the Jackson County Public Library.

With county leaders giving the green light to a task force composed of an equal number of Jackson County and town of Sylva officials, we can see a ray of hope that a compromise satisfactory to all might be achieved, and that's good news for everybody.

Until Tuesday, Sylva's elected town government had been excluded from the process that would ultimately decide the fate of a historically downtown institution. That's changed now, and we're happy to see commissioners involving those charged with protecting the town's best interests in such an important decision.

Recent groups asked to evaluate plans and study library options have been dominated by SCC and Fontana Regional Library staff members, who appeared to have a vested interest in supporting a proposed joint county-SCC library that would be built on the SCC campus.

Meanwhile, library patrons and citizens who believe passionately that a downtown must have a library felt shut out and labeled the proposed joint-use library a "done deal."

Tuesday's action should put those feelings to rest. Creation of the new task force demonstrates commissioners' willingness to remain open to siting a library downtown and postpone a decision until all available locations have been evaluated and accurate cost estimates are developed.

A number of Sylva civic leaders and elected officials have voiced their opinion that the library's presence is a crucial component of downtown revitalization efforts currently under way. Both Sylva Partners in Renewal and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce have voiced support for keeping the library in the downtown area.

The presence of Sylva leaders on the study committee will guarantee consideration of that aspect of library planning.

While we could argue that a study group including members of Sylva's city government should have been the first step on the road to our library's future, we won't. Instead, we'll say "thank you" to commissioners for their current willingness to work hand in hand with town leaders.
It's a welcome change, and we're grateful.