Matthews-Mint Hill - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

Libraries(continued from page 19)open for four days each. Jeter saidAug. 16 the larger, regional brancheslike Huntersville should be open fivedays, while community branches, likeMatthews and Mint Hill, should onlyget a three-day schedule.“We are talking about a regional librarythat is twice as big as … two communitylibraries combined. We’re talking aboutservices and offerings, programs andproducts that … two community librariessimply don’t have, will never and haveno potential of ever having,” Jeter said.“… We are shortchanging the residentsof not just Huntersville but the entirecommunity because there is no one thatcan sit here and rationally say that theNorth County Regional Library thathappens to sit in Huntersville doesn’tserve the entire community,” Jeter said.“It does.”Jeter introduced a motion to add thefive by three schedule back to the interlocalagreement, which he later withdrew.The irony of the discussion, however,is that Matthews, Mint Hill, Corneliusand Davidson – who have pushed hardto recruit and train volunteers – willallow those libraries to be open a fifthday. Huntersville, which has not made aconcerted effort, will likely remain openonly four days a week after commissionerssaid they didn’t want to become volunteerrecruiters.But this week saw ripples tear acrossMecklenburg County as towns whooffered cash to keep their branches openlearned of Huntersville’s vote.“We are all disappointed in cutsto library operating hours across theboard,” Davidson Mayor John Woodssaid. “But the issue of specific hours ateach branch was negotiated with a greatwww.matthewsminthillweekly.comCommunitydeal of focus, especially after the libraryboard came to the towns.”Davidson, Cornelius, Matthews andMint Hill each agreed to provide cash tothe library system only after library officialsagreed to cut back hours equallyamong the regional and communitybranches, he said.“We feel very strongly about our librariesbeing part of the heart and soul ofour communities,” Woods said.Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte agreed andpointed out that Davidson and Corneliusalready have raised the extra volunteersneeded to supplement the paidlibrary staff and restore those branchesto a five-day schedule.Tarte said he knows Huntersville coulddo the same by seeking more citizen participation.But the agreement taking alllibraries to a four-day schedule is fair, hesaid.“I think everybody should be treatedequally, and when you think about it,Huntersville got kind of a sweet deal.They’re not putting a penny in. Butwe’re all kind of in this as one community.We all have a shared library system.It’s a broader picture. In this case, thereis no perfect answer.”Because Davidson’s budget already isstrained, the town chose to raise mostof its pledge to the library system witha public fundraising campaign. Andin just two weeks, Davidson residentsalready have pledged $35,000, Woodssaid. A community task force is askingresidents to join the campaign by buyingengraved bricks for $100 or $500. Thiseffort has raised more than $20,000 sofar, he said. qWant to volunteer?The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library isstill looking for volunteers. To apply, visitwww.cmlibrary.org/volunteer or pick upa paper application at any branch.BECOME A FAN!Search for thefan pageto get updates onupcoming stories andbreaking local news. 2 OffersBeautiful Smiles. Lifetime Care.Offers to a Smile You LOVE!$99 Dental Exam & Digital Imaging!Offer includes Complete Dental Examination, comprehensive digitalimaging, cavity screening, oral cancer screening andExpires 10/31/2010Expires 10/31/2010No Dental Insurance...NO PROBLEM!4601 Park RoadCharlotte’s Premier Assisted Living & Memory Care CommunityA Bell Senior Living Communityan unhurried consultation with Dr. Payet.ORFree Whitening!By Jove!I think I’vefound the perfectAssisted LivingCommunity! Offer Code: SCLTWFree whitening for qualified patients with any dental procedureor completed treatment.Offer Code: SCLTWAsk about ourDental Discount Plan.Suite 175 704.364.7069www.TheCharlotteDentist.comMatthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Aug. 20-26, 2010 • Page 21