Dacula library may be spared, but there's a catch

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Gwinnett County Library Board moved away from plans to close the Dacula branch in favor of the new Hamilton Mill branch set to open next year.

But its 3-1 vote in favor of another plan left Dacula residents who attended Tuesday’s meeting just as upset. A crowd of about 60 was on hand protesting the vote.

Library administrators shared a plan that would permit all branches to remain open, but it would alter the current arrangement of a neighborhood library system in favor of a regional system. That arrangement would provide for nine community branches, three computer labs and three regional libraries.

The proposal drew opposition from board member Phil Sexton, who claimed the Library Board would be shifting away from a practice that had worked for more than 20 years. He recommended the board approve a measure to cut library hours of operation to 35 across the board, thus allowing all branches to remain open in the current budget crunch. When that motion failed, he asked the board to table any other proposals until the public had a chance to comment on the matter. That motion also failed.

The board voted Aug. 11 to close the Dacula branch to staff the new Hamilton Mill Library, but it later reconsidered that action.

The new $7.4 million Hamilton Mill Library is set to open early next year. Because it is located in the same service district, library board members said it made sense to close the Dacula branch and shift those resources to the new facility located 7 miles north on Braselton Highway.

The Gwinnett County Library System has been under siege due to budget cuts since July.

Last month, the library branches countywide took the unusual step of closing Sundays and Mondays and reducing hours the remainder of the week.