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Friends group urges board to oppose a six‑to‑nine month Lacey branch closure for remodel
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Summary
Sally Fitzgerald, co‑president of Friends of the Lacey Library, told the board that a proposed remodel closure of six to nine months would harm programs and urged the board and TRL trustees to seek alternatives, repair work or phased approaches to avoid prolonged shutdowns.
Sally Fitzgerald, co‑president of the Friends of the Lacey Library and a Lacey resident for more than 20 years, used the public‑comment period to urge the board and Timberland Regional Library trustees to reconsider plans that would close the library for a lengthy remodel.
"The timeline for the remodel is 6 to 9 months," Fitzgerald said, and she called a closure of that length "unacceptable," citing likely disruptions to children's programming, Saturday programs and other community services. She said the Friends group and others have written to the city, TRL and trustees asking them to investigate and consider alternatives that would preserve services, such as targeted repairs instead of a large, prolonged shutdown.
Why it matters: Fitzgerald framed the issue as both a service and equity concern, arguing local families and daily users rely on consistent hours and programming. She asked the board to use whatever influence it has with TRL and trustees to seek options that would avoid a complete multi‑month closure.
Board response and next steps: Chair Charlotte Deasy thanked Fitzgerald for her comments. No formal board action was taken during the meeting; the manager later discussed staffing and fund constraints in a separate agenda item and said she would investigate whether building‑fund or donor restrictions allow reallocation of remodel funds.
The board adjourned at 17:48.
