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Residents urge commissioners to preserve library funding and sustain domestic-violence services
Summary
Multiple residents at the Gaston County Board of Commissioners meeting urged the board to maintain funding for the county library system and to continue financial support for domestic-violence services, citing education, access to technology and life-saving support for survivors.
Several residents used the citizen-recognition portion of the April 22 Gaston County Board of Commissioners meeting to urge the board to maintain or increase funding for the public-library system and to continue support for domestic-violence survivor services.
One speaker who identified themselves by address detailed the scope of services provided by Hope United Survivors Network and the Lighthouse Children's Advocacy Center, and said the organizations provide crisis-response services, shelter referrals, court advocacy, housing assistance and safety planning. The speaker told the board: "These services save lives. Please let them continue to do so." (speaker listed in transcript by address; name not provided.)
Several other residents named themselves and described personal connections to county libraries and to survivors' services. Christine Robinson of Alpine Lane and Gina Robinson of Firestone Street told the board public libraries are essential community resources that provide free access to books, internet-access computers, printing and career-assistance services. Gina Robinson, who described herself as a survivor who used local services, said advocates' help was instrumental in her safety and recovery.
Emily Thomason said adaptive tools available through the library system helped her daughter, who has dyslexia, and described the libraries as a source of free resources including audio-coupled books and materials for school projects. Amanda Memrick and Amelia Mimrich testified about libraries' roles supporting job searches, GED preparation, maker spaces and local programming; Memrick noted Gaston County's per-resident library funding is below national averages and appealed to commissioners to restore or increase funding.
Commissioners and staff responded that no budget proposal had yet been presented to the board and that earlier comments about proximity of branches were illustrative; County Chair Chad Brown and other commissioners said they read public feedback into long-term budget deliberations. Commissioner Bob Hovis noted high attendance at a library book sale and recalled past public reaction when service hours were reduced.
Ending: Speakers asked the board to consider the community, educational and life-saving roles of libraries and survivor-service providers as county staff prepare a proposed FY26 budget for presentation to the commission on May 13.
