Andrews – Patrons are unhappy that the Andrews Public Library is closed on Mondays for reasons, as the library said on a note taped to its front door, beyond its control.
The Andrews library joins its sister, the Murphy Public Library, in scaling back operating days because the funding provided does not meet the needs. Both are part of the Nantahala Regional Library system, with two other locations in Hayesville and Robbinsville.
“Andrews has given us the same amount of funding over the past few years,” said Franklin Shook, regional library director. “They approved $100,000 ($80,000 is an allocation to [Nantahala Regional Library] to fund the library staff, and $20,000 is for building maintenance and cost.”
Andrews had previously funded the library at $140,000.
“That was drastically cut when Sandy Dobson became town administrator,” Shook said. “This caused Andrews Public Library at the time to close on Mondays due to reducing staff cost.
“This year, the Town of Andrews repeated the previous year’s allocation of $80,000; however, our retirement and health insurance cost increased. This resulted in having to cut part-time staff hours to make up the difference.”
In order to handle the staff reduction, Andrews had to reduce about four more service hours from its schedule. The Nantahala Regional Library system receives the funds given by the Town of Andrews, and also uses Cherokee County and state funds to operate the Andrews Public Library, he said.
“We can only provide service based on the funding we are given,” Shook said. “Due to our nonprofit nature, we cannot produce income to help with funding, but we are happy to work with our towns and counties to make our libraries better.”
In an inquiry to Town of Andrews leadership, an uncredited statement said, “The Town continues to support the library. The Town of Andrews expended approximately $31,000 on renovations to the library during the 2022 fiscal year. The Town of Andrews has expended approximately $2,100 on capital improvements to the library and will be purchasing a new air-conditioning unit for the library during the 2023 fiscal year.”
The renovations were necessary after a water line broke and flooded the back side of the library building.
Leaders in other counties and towns that are part of the library system have been grumbling about paying their own shares of the costs and accusing other members of not contributing enough. Andrews officials echo that concern.
“The Board [of Aldermen]’s decision not to increase funding to the library was founded upon the library’s historical distribution of funds to libraries in other counties. The board does not want taxpayer dollars going to other counties.”
In response to complaints about Andrews’ library funding in social media, Mayor James Reid said, “Our poor taxpayers cannot handle another tax increase after the county has raised the way they did this year.”
He was referring to an 11-cent countywide property tax increase, 8 cents of which is going to pay a lawsuit settlement involving the Department of Social Services.
Reid then posted a screen shot of Murphy’s library hours, which shows that Murphy’s library is closed on Saturdays.
Reid said he was glad the Andrews library is open on Saturdays “because that’s one of the biggest draws for the kids.” However, library funding cuts are happening nationwide, and “we just don’t have volunteers like we used to have years ago.”
In a social media post, Jodi Parks said, “James [Reid], if they keep on with limiting Andrews Library, what are our kids and elderly going to do? Sometimes I feel as though the city just wants to get rid of the library altogether.”
Reid denied that allegation.
“We definitely do not want to get rid of the library,” he said, adding that other towns in the system are doing the same thing, as property owners don’t want their taxes increased.