ST. CHARLES, Mo. — A vote to close three St. Charles County library branches has been postponed.
The St. Charles County Library Board has decided to delay the vote on closing the McClay, Deer Run, and Kisker Road branches. This decision comes after receiving significant backlash from library patrons who frequent these branches and have expressed concerns about potential job cuts.
According to the Post-Dispatch, library officials have stated that the postponement is to allow more time for community input. The McClay, Deer Run, and Kisker Road library branches are facing closure due to budget constraints.
The vote on their closures was originally scheduled for next week, along with the elimination of 64 jobs. However, the vote has been delayed to accommodate a series of public listening sessions.
Over 600 emails and letters were sent by residents of the county urging library officials to reconsider the closure of these branches. Several city and county governments have also adopted resolutions opposing the plan, including St. Charles County and City, O’Fallon, and Wentzville.
Initially, the library board voted to delay the decision for 30 days to allow for more public feedback after many individuals expressed feeling “blindsided” by the proposal. Then, on Thursday, the board decided to extend the postponement further.
The St. Charles County Library’s $24 million budget is set to go into effect on July 1. However, library officials have mentioned that it can be adjusted as the board deliberates on potential closures and consolidations. They also emphasize that delaying the decision indefinitely is not feasible.
Listening sessions for library staff and community members are tentatively scheduled for next month at each branch, with online surveys also being made available.
