Thursday, May 20, 2010

Charlotte Mecklenburg Trustees Vote to Close 4 Branches

Link to May 20 Charlotte Observer article.

Excerpt:   In what could be the first round of closings, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library trustees agreed this afternoon to shut down the Carmel, Belmont Center and CheckIt Outlet branches by June 19.

Trustees also agreed to temporarily close the Beatties Ford Road branch, which is currently under renovation, starting July 3. The branch would reopen in early 2011, and would replace the Freedom Regional Center as the regional library on the west side of town, library leaders said.

The closings come as the library system is trying to deal with a proposed $14.7 million cut to its budget from Mecklenburg County.

The proposed cuts equal about 45 percent of the system’s current budget. Steeper cuts were avoided by working out a plan to consolidate the library’s security and facility maintenance services with those of the country, saving more than $2 million
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Related articles:
Mecklenburg County tightens its belt.  (5/20/2010)
County manager cuts $14.7 million from library budget.  (5/18/2010)
2010-11 Mecklenburg County budget to be unveiled today.  (5/18/2010)
North Carolina woman plans on "going straight to the top" to keep Charlotte libraries open.  (5/16/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg officials ask local municipalities for $3 million contribution.  (4/30/2010)
Library Board chair speaks out.  (4/25/2010)
County commissioners seek ways to ease library cuts.  (4/23/2010)
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit.  (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task.  (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours.  (4/6/2010)
"Save Our Libraries Sunday".  (3/29/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg users owe average of 55 cents in fines.  (3/27/2010)
Library announces new hours for branches.  (3/26/2010)
Library Board applies a Band-Aid to its bleeding system.  (3/25/2010)
Follow-up on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board vote.  (3/25/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board votes to keep all branches open.  (3/24/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board presented with 2 budget-cutting alternatives.  (3/24/2010)
More and bigger cuts looming on horizon. (3/23/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Rethinks Closings. (3/22/2010)
A New Day is Dawning in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. (3/21/2010)

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