Residents of three small communities in Eastern Ontario are planning a protest over the loss of their libraries.
The towns of Morewood, St. Andrews West and Dalkeith are each losing their local branches by Sept. 3rd.
The branches are among 18 operated by the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry County Library. The Library Board voted to close three branches and re-allocate their resources to nearby branches to help improve service and attract members.
The vote was not without controversy. Board member Barbara Lehtiniemi resigned over the matter. She says the vote was rushed through without proper public consultation. “They were promised some opportunities for input this fall with some town hall meetings scheduled starting the beginning of September. By that time these three branches will be closed," says Lehtiniemi.
Opponents are also upset over what they see as misleading financial claims by the Board Chair, Bill McGimpsey.
McGimpsey stands by his numbers. He admits the final meeting may have appeared a little sudden, but the issue is not. The Board has been talking about closing branches for years. He says the branches in question only average around 50 borrowers a month.
“And I know to the residents of communities, they feel that something else has been taken out of these communities. However they are, in many cases, within 8 kilometres of a neighbouring library," McGimpsey adds.
Library supporters are planning a protest the morning of Monday, Aug. 22 outside the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry office in Cornwall. The protest coincides with the next meeting of the county council.
