According to South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, South Dundas council intends to consider a resolution to support maintaining a library in Williamsburg at the May 21 council meeting.
Whether or not council as a whole supports maintaining a branch in Williamsburg has never been put to a vote at the South Dundas council table.
When The Leader asked if council supports maintaining a library in Williamsburg, what impact such a resolution will have?, Erika Heesen, Communications and Marketing Librarian for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry County Library, instead of directly addressing the question, answered: “The SD&G Library Board decided at their December 17, 2012 meeting that the Williamsburg Branch would be consolidated with the Morrisburg Branch, including the reallocation of staff, hours of operation and resources as operationally feasible.”
At the same time as council is pondering support for a Williamsburg branch, the Township of South Dundas has asked the SD&G library to vacate the Williamsburg building by August 1, 2013.
“We’re confident the move will go smoothly,” said Heesen. The collections, furniture, etc. that are currently in the library branch will be re-allocated to other branches of the library system, with the majority moving to the Morrisburg branch.
“Staff at the Williamsburg branch will not lose any hours of work,” said Heesen, explaining that consolidated, longer opening hours will begin sooner than anticipated at the Morrisburg branch.
Services that will continue to be offered locally include the Visiting Library Service which is for retirement homes and the home-bound and 24/7 access to borrowing eBooks and eAudiobooks online. “The library also plans to offer Summer Reading Club as an outreach program in Williamsburg this summer,” said Heesen.
Also in the planning stages is a book pick up and drop off location at a Williamsburg retail location.
Although the details have yet to be confirmed, the Library hopes to have that service available as of August 1, 2013 so that Williamsburg residents do not experience any interruption in book delivery, according to Heesen.
The SD&G Library is funded by the United Counties of SD&G. The Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry County Library Board is made up of three citizens and four County Councillors.
Library Board members are appointed by County Council for a four-year term and serve without remuneration.
The Board is responsible for policy development.
South Dundas rents space to the Counties for the local libraries.
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