admin posted on June 21, 2010 13:37
The Matthews Town Board of Commissioners has approved an agreement with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library System that will result in the Matthews Branch remaining open. They voted unanimously on the agreement during a special meeting held tonight.
The Town Board scheduled the special meeting last week, after negotiations with the Library Board of Trustees, led to the agreement. As part of the agreement the Town Board voted to defer the $204,609 lease payment the library would have owed the Town this year. The Town will also work with library staff to recruit volunteers to work in the library. Initially, the Matthews Branch will be open 32 hours a week - four days a week. If enough volunteers are recruited the branch hours could be expanded and be open 41 hours a week – five days a week. The library system estimates that the Town will need 400 volunteer hours per month in order to be open five days a week.
The agreement is part of an effort by the Towns of Matthews, Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, Mint Hill, and the City of Charlotte to financially contribute to the Library System this year. The Library typically receives no monies from these municipalities. The bulk of their budget is supplied from county property taxes.
As part of the agreement the Matthews Branch will work with the Independence Regional Library and the Mint Hill Branch to coordinate hours of service, volunteer recruitment and programming in the southern end of the county. Initially, the Matthews branch will be closed three days a week - Sunday, Monday and Thursday. The Library will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
“We are pleased that we have all been able to work together to save a majority of our county library branches,” commented Mayor Jim Taylor. “Having the Matthews Branch remain open is important for the thousands of people who use the library monthly.”