“Nobody wants to close the library and no decision has been made to close the library,” Cooke said. “We’re going to look at all alternatives other than closing the library.”
Residents brought ideas like charging $5 for a library card and cutting back hours to each library. Cooke said he would gladly take any and all suggestions into consideration. Those interested can submit their ideas on the budget at www.wakegov.com/budget/input.htm.
Garner residents made it clear they aren’t done fighting.
“We want this proposal off the table,” former Garner Town Council candidate Amaka said.
The regional library’s first supervisor Rosemary Carmichael said the support for the “Garner library” has been amazing since the day it opened in 1989 when nearly 1,400 books were checked out in a matter of a few hours. Carmichael can’t believe the budget cut was even suggested.
“The cut should have been spread and shared by all libraries in the Wake County System,” she said.
Cooke said the budget process is still preliminary. He won’t present the budget to the County Commissioners until the third week in May.
County Commissioner for District 2 Lindy Brown said she has received several letters, email and phone calls from Garner residents who want to keep the library’s doors open. She has gotten 13 letters from fifth graders at Creech Road Elementary and 76 letters from Garner Magnet High School students.
Brown said it’s proof that young students are getting involved in the political process and learning how they can make an impact on the community.
“I am extremely proud of the town of Garner,” she said.
Brown said in return for Garner’s hard work, she would do her best to keep the Southeast Regional Library and all Wake County libraries open.
One letter Brown received was from Thomas Allen, a long time Garner resident and avid library user, who was distraught to hear of the possible closing. Allen knows personally and from friends how difficult it can be to go to the library with a disability. Traveling farther to the Fuquay branch or one of the libraries in Raleigh would add to the issue.
“To cut the funding for (the Southeast Regional Library), I just think it’s barbaric,” Allen said. “I just don’t think we need to close that branch at all.”
Allen wrote to Rep. David Price, Rep. Bob Etheridge , Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Kay Hagan as well. Price, Etheridge and Burr all responded saying they are doing their part to help keep the library open.
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