Updated 3:01 p.m.
Reduced hours and fewer open days begin this week at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branches, including those in Davidson and Cornelius, as the system adapts to the loss of nearly half its funding in the new budget year that began July 1. Meanwhile, Davidson’s mayor said over the holiday weekend that community fund-raising will begin later this month to fulfill town officials’ pledge to raise $175,000 for library operations this year. Also, Cornelius wants the county to give it the land under the Catawba Avenue branch in exchange for its contribution to library funding.

SHORTER HOURS

The branches on the Davidson Village Green, at Main Street and Concord Road, and on Catawba Avenue in Cornelius will now be open just four days a week: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The branches will be closed Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

The North County Regional Library, off Hwy. 21 in Huntersville, will be open Mondays from noon to 9 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See a list of new hours at all library branches on the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library website.

TOWNS COMMIT FUNDS

Library operations traditionally have been funded largely through the county budget. But lower revenues this year because of the weak economy forced the county to cut the library’s budget by nearly one-half. After a spring of lobbying and organizing, the county commission approved additional funds, and the City of Charlotte also agreed to one-time cash infusion to keep branches open.

The library system then turned to the county’s towns, hoping to raise additional money to keep open community branches.

On June 21, town boards in both Davidson and Cornelius committed to contribute $175,000 each to help pay for library operations in the coming year. They joined the towns of Huntersville, Mint Hill and Matthews in pledging support.

Davidson is facing budget troubles of its own this year, in part because of a need to provide a $2 million subsidy to the town-owned cable TV and internet system. With no public money available, public officials and library supporters in Davidson have established a library task force that hopes to raise the $175,000 through a summer fund-drive reminiscent of the one that helped establish the current branch on the Village Green in 1995.

At a town Independence Day Concert on the Green on the library porch and Village Green Saturday, July 3, Mayor John Woods told concert-goers that they would soon be asked to help out.

“As our library system is under financial threat, we will soon be asked to step forward as individuals and as a community to provide the financial support to make our library sustainable,” the mayor said.

The task force also will begin organizing volunteers to help staff the library branch. After his remarks Saturday, the mayor said an announcement of the fund-raising campaign is expected within a few weeks.

Task force members say they’re looking into raising money by selling engraved bricks that would be used at the library site.

Cornelius officials say they are finalizing an agreement with the library to provide the $175,000. That agreement appears likely to include a deal with the county to provide the funding in trade for the land the Cornelius branch sits on. According to an action item to be presented to Mecklenburg County Commissioners Tuesday night, “Cornelius is interested in receiving ownership interest in the county-owned land where the Cornelius library is located. Mecklenburg County would require that the transferred land be used only for public library purposes unless otherwise approved by the Board of County Commissioners.”

The same document shows that the Town of Mint Hill also is requesting a land swap in exchange for its $175,000 contribution.

RELATED COVERAGE

June 30, 2010, “Ex-mayor Kincaid at the helm as library task force begins work”

June 21, 2010, “Town boards commit funds to save branch libraries”

See previous stories about the library’s financial woes under the “Charlotte Mecklenburg Library” tag.