ST. CHARLES COUNTY — Library officials are slated to vote Tuesday on whether to shelve a controversial proposal that would shutter three library branches here.
The resolution would give administrators six months to draft a new plan to address financial issues in the library district. A vote on the current plan that includes branch closures has already been delayed until the fall, but Tuesday's vote could scrap it altogether.
The vote comes after library administrators presented a plan in May that would shutter three branches — McClay in St. Charles, Deer Run in O’Fallon and Kisker Road near Weldon Spring.
St. Charles City-County Library CEO Jason Kuhl said operating costs have outpaced revenue in the district in recent years, and if left unchecked, the library would likely have a budget deficit in the next few years. The library district operates on a $24 million annual budget.
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“What we have is a spending problem — and that doesn’t mean a mismanagement problem or we’re spending money frivolously. What it means, ultimately, is that what it costs to run this many brick-and-mortar facilities is increasing at a rate that’s greater than our revenues have been increasing,” Kuhl told the Post-Dispatch earlier this month.
But response to the proposal was swift.
Residents sent more than 600 emails and letters to library officials urging them to reconsider, advocating for their respective library branch and sharing stories of how the library had positively impacted their life. Residents organized online, using social media to form "Save St. Charles MO Libraries," which has more than 6,000 members.
Several city and county governments adopted resolutions opposing the plan, including in St. Charles, St. Charles County, O’Fallon and Wentzville.
Residents have protested outside library board meetings and plan to gather again at tonight's meeting.
Tuesday's meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the meeting rooms of the Spencer Road Branch of the library system, in St. Peters. A simple majority of library board members would need to vote in favor of the resolution for it to pass.