"Memphis Mayor Wants to Close Five Libraries"

"Memphis Mayor Wants to Close Five Libraries"
By: Norman Oder -- Library Journal, March 20, 2008

Willie Herenton is the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee and plans to close five of the nineteen branches of the Memphis Public Library and Information Center as well as four community centers in an effort to save almost $2 million a year. Previously, Herenton made a decision to appoint "two nonlibrarians at the helm of the [Memphis public] library," and this along with this new decision have aroused a lot of criticism among Memphis residents. While the mayor referred to the libraries to be closed as "underused" and "deteriorating," some online commenters replied, stating that the libraries were instead, "neighborhood anchors."
Although an efficiency study conducted last year determined that it would be beneficial to close those five libraries, it also indicated that the resources from those libraries should be relocated to other centers; however, Herenton's statements did not address what would be done in reference to the resources from the five libraries after they close.
Some suspect that the announcement may have been intended to encourage a tax increase from Memphis residents if they realize that they may risk losing five of the public libraries in their area without it.
The problem remains seemingly unsolved. I can not imagine closing down five libraries within an area. In my small hometown of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, we have a very small, very old branch of the Onslow County Public Libraries. Despite that this library is underused in comparison with other larger libraries is more densely populated areas, it is still very important to the members of our small community. Without it, the closest library would be at least thirty minutes away from our home. I hope that Herenton and the rest of the Memphis community can come to a different conclusion, one that will save the libraries in Memphis.