The first meeting of a Chatham County (Ga.) Commission study group, formed to resolve disagreements and funding shortfalls related to the future of inner-city services in branches of the Chatham-Effingham-Liberty Regional Library in Savannah, took place on February 22, but it failed to agree on whether opening up school libraries to the public was a viable alternative to keeping six branches open.
The group, set up in January and composed of city, county, library, and school-district representatives, was split on the issue, with five opposed and four in favor. Those opposed were concerned that public access would result in drug and predator problems, as well as stolen school resources, according to the February 23 Savannah Morning News. However, county officials pointed out that school-based libraries have been successful in other cities.
Controversy also swirled around the library's intention, announced February 19, to cut 11 vacant positions to add four salaried administrative positions at the main library on Bull Street. Library Director Lon Dickerson said he could not fill any of these positions until the county decided what to do about adequate funding for the central facility.
Posted March 1, 1999.