CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Another Charlotte-Mecklenburg library closed its doors Saturday over budget cuts.
Staff members fought back tears as they closed the doors to the Carmel branch for the last time Saturday. Next week, they will be back to pack up the remaining materials and books to transfer to other branches.
The seven staff members of the Carmel branch will either be temporarily transferred to another branch or laid off.
Staff members said they were too emotionally drained to talked, but were thankful for the dozens of cards and flowers the library received from supporters.
Patron Holly Thomson said, "It's very sad to say goodbye. It's a great library and a great staff."
Leddon Stevenson wished them all well. "I hope they can find another job that they love as much as this one."
The Check-it Outlet branch closed Friday and the Beatties Ford Road branch is closed for renovations but once it reopens, the Freedom Regional will close its doors to the public.
Leaders from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library system met Thursday with leaders from Mecklenburg County towns in an effort to keep library branches open despite deep funding cuts from the county.
After months of debate, Mecklenburg County commissioners finalized a budget plan for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, on Tuesday.
The library system typically doesn't receive any money from towns, but library leaders asked town leaders to make an exception in light of the budget cuts the system faces. For the most part, town leaders were receptive to the idea.
Leaders from Cornelius and Mint Hill seemed willing to pay $175,000 each.
"Yeah, we're going to be putting up, writing a check for cash, no question," Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte said.
Leaders from Davidson and Matthews said they are willing to allow their respective library branches to remain open rent-free.
"We do want to keep our libraries open," Davidson Mayor John Woods said. "We've been committed to that from the very beginning."
Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain also expressed a desire to support the library system, but said the town may not be able to make a direct payment.
"We in Huntersville are going to have a very hard time handing cash over," Swain said. Pineville leaders were also asked to help, but didn't seem to express interest. The town doesn't have a library branch.
Still, with five of the county's six towns at least seeming to be on board, library director Charles Brown was pleased.
"I guess, in a word, [I feel] relieved," he said.
The towns still have to vote on the issue before it becomes final, and they will have to do so soon. They are calling emergency meetings between Thursday and the end of Monday.
If those towns sign off on the plan to help the library system, the city of Charlotte will chip in $1.4 million, making it possible for all library branches to stay open for at least some days each week.
Previous Stories: June 4, 2010: County Leaders Vote To Give Libraries, CMS More Money May 24, 2010: City Leaders Consider Helping Cash-Strapped County May 20, 2010: Park And Rec: Cuts Mean Closing Parks, Cutting Jobs May 19, 2010: Budget Cuts Mean Big Changes Across County May 19, 2010: Meck Co. Manager Submits 'Brutal' Budget Request April 30, 2010: Library Leaders Plan For Looming Budget Cuts