Garner book lovers may have to find a new hub because a proposal was sent to the Community Services Department Monday from the Wake County Public Library System to close Southeast Regional’s doors.

Although the Wake County budget process is just beginning for the next fiscal year, all departments have been asked to make seven-percent reductions, which comes to nearly $1.1 million for the library system.

Acting Wake County Public Libraries Director Ann Burlingame said the library system is efficient. However, with cutbacks of four percent for the 2008-09 and eight percent for the 2009-10 budgets, there isn’t a lot of money the system could hand back to the County without cutting services or closing library doors.

“We don’t want to close any library,” Burlingame said. “That’s the last thing we want to happen.”

Wake County’s budget gap is estimated at five percent and Burlingame said the seven-percent reductions in each department would allow for some flexibility.

Burlingame was clear that nothing is set in stone yet; the budget process will be carried out through the spring.

“This is one of the options that rose to the top, but we looked at multiple options,” she said.

Other options included closing multiple smaller libraries.

The budget will go through several steps before reaching the Wake County Board of Commissioners. Throughout the process, the Library Commission will have the opportunity to make an argument for Southeast Regional to stay open.

Burlingame said the Commission did a great job last year, helping to keep all of Wake County’s public libraries open.

The Garner community was shocked by the initial reports last week that the library’s doors could close as early as August. Burlingame said the facility wouldn’t close in the middle of the summer, with the start of the new fiscal year, because that is the library’s peak use time.

“This is a library that is well-grounded in the community,” Burlingame said.

If the library were forced to shut its doors, Garner’s readers would have to travel to the Fuquay-Varina, Cameron Village or Richard B. Harrison libraries. None of those options make Burlingame happy because drive time would be significantly increased for Garner residents.

As soon as the economy picks up, the library system would try to move back into Garner – either in the current space or a new location.

“That area couldn’t really go without library service,” she said.

Southeast Regional’s first Branch Manager Rosemary Carmichael agrees.

“It would be a big loss,” she said.

She was shocked and stunned to hear the news last week that Wake County’s first regional library might have to close. Now, Carmichael wants to do whatever possible to keep the library up and running.

She believes there is still hope since the budget is only in its first stages. Carmichael said she looks forward to the upcoming community meeting Feb. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church of Garner because she hopes library patrons will have a more united front.

“I believe that definitely they’re going to let their voices be heard,” she said.

A press release from the Town of Garner read that Town Council members are concerned that the Southeast Regional Library offers the only opportunity for some residents and students to access computers. They believe closing the library could be harmful to the education of Garner’s children.

“On behalf of the Town Council, I can assure our residents that we are not taking the news lightly and we are preparing ways to organize the Town and community so we can determine the most effective way to voice our opposition,” Mayor Ronnie Williams said.

The library’s 25 to 30 staff members were notified last week of the recommendation to close Southeast Regional, but Burlingame said many of them have worked in the system for a long time.

A hiring freeze has left many library positions throughout the county’s libraries vacant and staff members would most likely be transferred. The library staff members could also be placed in other jobs within the county.

The news comes as the Southeast Regional Library prepares to celebrate its 21st anniversary in February. Last year, the library celebrated with the help of the community.

Then Public Libraries Director Tom Moore said the Southeast Regional Library had a long road ahead, but it would first have to survive the economic crisis.

Garner has always had a strong interest in library services, Carmichael said; even before the Southeast Regional Library opened. She believes if cuts are made, they should be shared by all the libraries – like cutting hours or services.

One library should not have to take the entire burden.

“There are other ways to make cuts on the budget,” she said.

How you can get involved:

The Library Commission advocates for the library system. Email or call the Library Commission members at:

Vice Chair Mrs. Mildred Dail

919-266-2820 (home)

Mbeamdail@aol.com

Mr. Jason Herndon

919-201-1854 (home)

919-835-4630 (work)

jasonherndon@parkerpoe.com

Mr. Frank Bobbitt

919-290-2645 (home)

fbobbittiii@aol.com

Mr. Lee Sartain

919-210-4797 (home)

919-513-8512 (work)

leesartain@gmail.com

Mrs. Addie Copeland

919-747-9936 (home)

addiemuf@aol.com

Mrs. Lynda Creutzburg

919-556-5336 (home)

919-961-1636 (cell)

lynda139@nc.rr.com

Mrs. Leona Bloom

919-866-1333 (home/cell)

919-274-8600 (alternate cell)

leonabloom@nc.rr.com

Some Garner residents also have started a petition to save the library. To sign the online petition, visit www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-the-southeast-regional-library.

A community meeting has been planned for Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Garner, located at the corner of Lakeside Drive and NC 50. All Garner residents and library patrons are invited to share their opinion and learn how to let their voices be heard by the Wake County Board of Commissioners.