Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Reconsidering Closure Plans
While $200,000 has been raised, budget cut remains $2 million, so services will suffer
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 03/23/2010
- Special meeting tomorrow
- Major service cuts no matter what
The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), NC, is reconsidering its announced plan to eliminate 148 jobs and close 12 of its 24 branches—a response to a $2 million budget cut within the last three months of the current fiscal year.
The library board will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The community has responded with nearly $200,000 in fundraising, but that's not nearly enough to maintain service.
Thus, the library is preparing the public for major service cuts no matter what, noting that "there will still be tradeoffs between service at all 24 locations, convenient hours of operation, and the spectrum of services offered."
As of this morning, the library said, donations had reached $182,469, including a $50,000 gift from the Friends of the Library, made in honor of Joan Neal, a former Chair of the Friends board.
