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Residents urge Allegany County commissioners to preserve libraries as system faces shortfall
Summary
Speakers at an Allegany County public meeting urged commissioners to prevent planned library closures, criticized library leadership for lack of fundraising and proposed a small per-taxpayer levy to sustain services.
Speakers at an Allegany County Board of Commissioners meeting urged elected officials to prevent the closure of two to three county libraries and pressed county leaders to identify funding alternatives as the Allegany County Library System faces a budget shortfall.
The appeals came during public comment from Trish Morgan, president of Save the Western Port Library, and the Rev. Justin Searls of Keiser, West Virginia, among others. "We're counting on those seven trustees to make the right decision and keep all of the libraries open," Morgan said, identifying the local group that formed to support the Western Port Library and saying her organization expects to raise $30,000 by April. The trustees she referenced are the seven members of the county library board whose appointments the commissioners make.
Morgan told the commissioners the library system's executive director, whom she identified as "Mr. Tobe," has a $125,000 salary and that the system has not been doing…
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