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Residents urge commissioners to keep Vanderbilt Beach Library open as budget and service cuts loom
Summary
Four public speakers told the Collier County Commission they have collected thousands of petition signatures and urged officials not to close the Vanderbilt Beach Library, citing accessibility for seniors, traffic impacts if patrons are forced to use the county headquarters branch and limited non‑personnel funding in the library's 2025 budget.
Multiple speakers during Tuesday’s public‑comment period urged Collier County commissioners to preserve the Vanderbilt Beach Library and to include it in upcoming budget discussions.
Marsha Onick (appears in the record as Marsha Onick) said volunteers had collected nearly 1,200 hard‑copy signatures and 1,500 online signatures in roughly two weeks, and that petitioners cite traffic and accessibility as primary reasons to keep the branch open. Onick told commissioners the 2025 library budget reduced staffing at Vanderbilt Beach from 4.5 full‑time equivalents to 2.5 and provided about $66,000 for non‑personnel expenses, which petitioners say is insufficient to maintain the facility.
"The bottom line, pretty small amount of money compared with the value it provides taxpaying patrons that rely on this library to provide them a vital service," Onick said.
Susan Zinder said the Pelican Bay Foundation and the sheriff’s office had expressed interest in the library property and that Pelican Bay communications had suggested the property might be considered for a public‑private partnership. She said more than 2,600 people had signed a petition to save the library and emphasized that many patrons — particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges — rely on the branch because it is close to home.
Nicole Rolando noted the branch has served the community since 1981 and called it "both a library and a community center," arguing that closing the branch would reduce services for seniors who rely on an air‑conditioned indoor facility and that the branch’s programing and walkable access are important to local residents.
On Zoom, Deborah Gieseau added that a book drop is not a substitute for a staffed library and that requiring patrons to cross U.S. 41 to reach larger branches would seriously affect users with mobility limits.
No board action was taken on the library during Tuesday’s meeting. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the public comments; staff said they would provide information during strategic‑initiatives discussions and the upcoming budget workshops.
Why it matters: the Vanderbilt Beach Library branch serves nearby neighborhoods, including seniors and residents with limited mobility, and petitioners say closing the branch for modest budget savings would eliminate a key local service. Commissioners flagged the branch as a potential discussion item for the county’s strategic initiatives and the June budget workshops.
