Posted September 3, 2004.

Supporters Protest El Paso County Library Closure

Some 500 concerned residents rallied August 31 at a middle school in Fabens, Texas, to protest the county commission’s plan to shut down the 35-year-old El Paso County Library. Although some officials agreed to consider supporting the library by raising taxes, Commissioner Dan Haggarty said he could make no promises, the El Paso Times reported September 1.

“I’m not going to guarantee to vote to raise taxes as long as there are things on the table that we can cut,” Haggarty said above a chorus of boos.

The only public library in the county outside the city of El Paso, the library in Fabens must close its doors September 30 because the commission voted August 5 to cut its entire annual funding of $253,728 to help meet a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall.

Residents plan to petition the county before the end of the month to keep the library open. “We wouldn’t have anywhere to go to do homework or use the Internet” if the library closed, 15-year-old Karino Cacho said at the rally.

Posted September 3, 2004.