City receives update on library issue

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The library is a few steps closer to reopening.

City Commissioners heard an update on the library and its focus groups Monday evening (March 9) at City Hall.

Commissioner Ward IV Charlie Haynes Jr. has headed two focus groups on the issue.

“I suggested that we have a focus group that we kind of look at not only the short term, but the long term,” he said. “What we’ve done is come up with brainstorming in the first and the second meeting we put different ideas into categories.”

He added they would put the items into short term and long term goals during a third meeting, conducted Tuesday (March 12).

“There are some things that need to get done now and some things that they’ll take a while to get done,” he added.

They have also discussed ways to draw attention back to the library when it nears time to be open again. “One of the things we suggested is having a re-grand opening of the library, and get some publicity and all that because more people can use it,” said Haynes, adding there are a lot of other good ideas from the group. “What we want to do is show progress, and my goal as a facilitator is to keep it moving forward.”

City Administrator Mike Lamberson reported the City has already taken the first step  to get to that next step. “We did get a librarian hired,” he said, adding that Cynthia Olivares has been hired for the position.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.