Community library meeting this Saturday

Roger Varley

Residents of Zephyr are being asked to attend a community meeting this Saturday to discuss the future of the Zephyr library.

Organized by Janet Betts, the meeting will be held in the Zephyr community centre from 2 - 4 p.m.

Betts said the purpose of the meeting is to provide residents with information they will need if they attend a similar meeting to be held April 20, this one organized by the township of Uxbridge. At issue is the possible relocating of the library from its current quarters to the community centre.

Betts claims the township is withholding information from the residents over the possible move and that the April 20 meeting will be the township's "hard sell" of the proposal. Part of the township's proposal rests on the possible loss of the library's access to the well on the neighbouring United Church property, which is to be sold, and the cost of necessary repairs and renovations. Betts said she had an electrical contractor look at the building and also received quotes on the cost of a new well and automatic doors for the current location.

She said the plan to move to the community centre would see the library split into two sections; the adult section and one for children. She said the librarian would not be able to monitor both sections and the set-up would be unsafe for the librarian.

Betts said the hall will be marked off on Saturday to show attendees how much floor space of the community centre would be lost with the installation of a library. She added that she has a petition signed by 400 people who are opposed to the move.