B.O.L.D. is a grassroots
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For additional information about B.O.L.D. contact Joyce Moore at (828) 586-9499 |
There have been 48 news articles (and editorials) published in our local newspapers related to the proposed library move. Coverage of this ongoing controversy has also appeared on local TV station and ABC news affiliate WLOS 13 and on local radio WRGC 680AM. Sources: #48 May 27, 2004 (SH) #47 May 26, 2004 (SMN) #46 May 20, 2004 (SH) #45 May 20, 2004 (SH) "In a move that could help clear the way for a library to be constructed at Mark Watson Park, county leaders last week agreed to purchase slightly more than 2 acres adjacent to the East LaPorte river access park." ... "While the primary goal of the land acquisition is to enhance recreation opportunites, the parcel could be used by county leaders as an exchange if they decide to construct a new county public library on a portion of Mark Watson Park in Sylva." #44 May 13, 2004 (SH) #43 April 8, 2004 (SH) #42 March 25, 2004 (SH) #41 Feb. 11, 2004 (SMN) #40 Feb. 11, 2004 (SMN) #39 Feb. 5, 2004 (SH) #38 Jan. 21, 2004 (SMN) #37 Jan. 15, 2004 (SH) #36 Jan. 15, 2004 (SH) #35 Dec. 31, 2003 (SMN) #34 Dec. 31, 2003 (SMN) #33 Dec. 31, 2003 (SMN) ..."Jackson County commissioners were prepared to close the downtown library and jump at the joint library proposal with SCC, but public outcry led the commissioners to participate in public debate and eventually launch a task force study." (May) #32 Dec. 18, 2003 (SH) #31 Dec. 17, 2003 (SMN) #30 Dec. 17, 2003 (SMN) #29 Dec. 11, 2003 (SH) #28 Dec. 10, 2003 (SMN) #27 Dec. 4, 2003 (SH) #26 Dec. 4, 2003 (SH) #25 Dec. 4, 2003 (SH) #24 Nov. 27, 2003 (SH) #23 Nov. 20, 2003 (SH) #22 Nov. 19, 2003 (SMN) #21 Nov. 13, 2003 (SH) #20 Nov. 6, 2003 (SH) #19 Oct. 30, 2003 (SH) #18 Oct. 23, 2003 (SH) #17 Oct. 22, 2003 (SMN) #16 June 26, 2003 (SH) #15 June 19, 2003 (SH) #14 June 18, 2003 (SMN) #13 May 29, 2003 (SH) #12 May 29, 2003 (SH) #11 May 28, 2003 (SMN) #10 May 28, 2003 (SMN) #9 May 28, 2003 (SMN) "Another shortcoming in the process was brought out at the public hearing — the complete lack of library user and citizen input into the plan." #8 May 21, 2003 (SMN) #7 May 21, 2003 (SMN) #6 May 15, 2003 (SH) #5 May 8, 2003 (SH) #4 May 8, 2003 (SH) Editorial: Library belongs in downtown Sylva #3 May 1, 2003 (SH) #2 April 17, 2003 (SH) #1 March 20, 2003 (SH) Old but
relevant: |
Contact Sylva town hall to
find out when Last
meeting was 5 p.m. Thursday, May 20 CURRENT LINE OF EVENTS #36 January
15, 2004 (SH) Commissioners' Chairman Stacy Buchanan proposed forming a county/town task force that would consist of him, Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, county Manager Ken Westmoreland, town Manager Richard McHargue, an at-large county commissioner and an at-large town board member. The new group will identify and evaluate potential downtown sites for a new 20,000-square-foot library. #37 January 15, 2004
(SH) February 3 - New Task Force Created #39 Febuary 5, 2004 (SH) Buchanan said no site has been ruled out and that the committee will consider all suggestions including Courthouse Hill and a possible second floor on the existing library. ... The $50,000 allocated to the JLTF will now be used by the county/town committee to compensate the architect to assist with site evaluations and estimates, Buchanan said. #41 February 11, 2004
(SMN) Jackson County commissioners and the Town of Sylva appointed representatives to the newest library task force and tapped local architect Odell Thompson to serve as site review manager at their first joint meeting Feb. 3. February 23 - 1st Task Force Meeting
#42 March 25, 2004 (SH) #43 April 8, 2004 (SH) The county's top elected official announced Tuesday (April 6) that he plans to propose constructing a new Jackson County library on the site of the old Sylva High School at Mark Watson Park. #44 May 13, 2004 (SH) #45 May 20, 2004 (SH) #46 May 20, 2004 (SH) May 20 - 2nd Task Force Meeting #47 May 26, 2004 (SMN) #48 May 27, 2004 (SH) OLD NEWS, NOT AS RELAVANT:
County Commissioners reveal plan to move Jackson County Public Library despite overwhelming public opposition In March
2003 the Jackson
County Commissioners, Joint-Use Library Task
Force A seven-member study group - which included Jackson County library manager Michael Cartwright (ired during original task-force study period, August 2001: photo, article), Macon County librarian Karen Wallace, Deb Lawley and John Tyndall of Fontana Regional Library System, Nelda Reid and Dianne Lindgren of SCC's library and Gene Couch, vice president for instructional services at SCC - was formed in March 2002 after both the county and SCC decided their respective library facilities were in need of expansions. The group held approximately 10 meetings before issuing a report in October. The report was not officially made public until March 2003, in the form of an unrelated county budget meeting report by The Sylva Herald. No
public input was involved in the report. versus Original Public Library Task Force From 1999 to 2001, a diverse community-based group including members of Fontana Regional Library System, Jackson County Public Library, library patrons, business owners, local government, and other members of the public was formed. They were given the task of studying needs and locations for a new public library facility. That task-force recommended a new public library was best suited to be built in a downtown Sylva location (our county's seat). Several downtown sites were considered including the old County Courthouse, Jim Gray's lot next to the downtown municipal parking lot on Railroad Road, Mark Watson Park, Jackson Plaza, and others. SCC's Webster campus was considered in the process, but original task-force members rejected the SCC location. The downtown sites for a new public library were evaluated by an independant architectual and engineering firm. The recommendations and results of the original task-force were never released to the public. No official mention of the original task-force recommendations have appeared during this recent process. |
There have been 39+ "Letters to the Editor" published in The Sylva Herald & Ruralite against moving the library (and 6 in favor of library move). Also, over 3,000 citizens have signed a petition opposing a joint-use facility. (Population of Jackson County: ~33,000) #?? May 27, 2004 ... [snip] more letters #38 January 15, 2004 #37 January 8, 2004 #36 December 25, 2003 #35 December 11, 2003 #34 November 27, '03 #33 November 13, '03 #32 October 16, 2003 #31 October 9, 2003 #30 August 14, 2003 #29 July 17, 2003 #28 June 26, 2003 #27 June 19, 2003 #26 June 19, 2003 #25 June 19, 2003 #24 June 19, 2003 #23 June 19, 2003 #22 June 5, 2003 Commissioners should consider long-term effects of moving library by David Wheeler, Whittier #21 June 5, 2003 #20 June 5, 2003 #19 May 29, 2003 #18 May 29, 2003 #17 May 29, 2003 #16 May 29, 2003 #15 May 29, 2003 #14 May 22, 2003 #13 May 22, 2003 #12 May 22, 2003 #11 May 8, 2003 #10 May 8, 2003 #9 May 1, 2003 #8 May 1, 2003 #7 April 24, 2003 #6 April 17, 2003 #5 April 17, 2003 #4 April 10, 2003 #3 April 10, 2003 #2 April 3, 2003 #1 March 27, 2003 In fairness, here are the letters in favor of the move (6): 6/12 Arguments against library move don't hold water by Mark Jamison, former Smart Growth commitee chairman 6/12 Library plans have always been public by Deb Lawley, Fontana Regional Library, Macon County 6/05 Library plan warrants additional study by Mark Jamison 5/22 Making a case for moving the library by Howard Allman, Jackson County Public Library Board of Trustees, Webster 5/22 Reasons to consider joint-use library by Kevin L. Pennington, Sylva 4/10 It's a 'county' library, not 'town' library by Chris Behre, Tuckasegee A collection of letters to the county commissioners (in Microsoft Word format) is available for download, here. |
| Fontana Regional Library system Director: Gail Findlay 33 Fryemont Street Bryson City, NC 28713 (828) 488-2382 or 488-4500 Fax: (828) 488-2638 |
Jackson County Public Library County Librarian: Michael Cartwright 755 W. Main Street Sylva, NC 28779 (828) 586-2016 Fax: (828) 586-3423 |
Southwestern Community College President: Dr. Cecil Groves 447 College Drive (NC 116) Webster, NC 28779 (828) 586-4091 or (800) 447-4091 Fax: (828) 586-3129 |
Jackson
County Commissioners |
Chairman: Stacy Buchanan (828) 586-0488 |
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