By By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Dacula business group wants to throw the book at the Gwinnett Library System.

Chad Parson, president of the Dacula Business Association, said his organization will seek an injunction to stop the library administration from implementing a plan to revamp its service strategy and set up a regional system.

Faced with a 10 percent budget cut in 2010, the Gwinnett County Library Board adopted a plan Tuesday dividing the county into three regions, each with a regional library with expanded hours, three community branches and one computer lab.

Library Executive Director Nancy Stanbery-Kellam said the plan provides for expanded services and hours of operation at a time of severe budget cuts.

The plan, one of five reviewed by the board prior to the meeting, passed 3-1, with board member Phillip Saxton opposed.

Saxton had argued for a plan which would have kept services roughly the same at all 15 branches but reduced hours to 35 a week from the current 43. He also asked that, before adopting such a “radical” change in services, the public should be consulted. He wanted to delay action pending more public input.

But board members Dale Todd, Margaret Tiller and Babs Wagoner sided with Kellam, saying action had to be taken before the end of the year.

The vote brought a torrent of disapproval from a crowd of about 50, who came hoping to reverse an earlier decision to close the Dacula Branch Library in favor of the new Hamilton Mill branch.

Tuesday’s vote will keep both branches open. It will also keep open branches in Buford and Snellville, which had been slated to close early next year.

But the Dacula facility, along with those in Lilburn and Snellville, will be converted to computer labs specializing in expanded online classes and services. Access to books at these branches will be limited to special orders from other branches.

The Suwanee, Five Forks and Collins Hill branches will be regional libraries operating 43 hours week. The Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Grayson, Mountain Park, Centerville, Buford, Hamilton Mill and Lawrenceville branches would operate 35 hours a week.

Conversion to computer labs drew a split response from mayors of the three cities affected.

Lilburn Mayor Diana Preston said it’s the best solution to the budget dilemma.

The Lilburn branch, she said, is small. The new measure will give residents access to valuable computer resources and keep all libraries open when many people are out of work and in need of library services, she said.

Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said that if the city’s branch is to be converted, he wants a commitment it will be a quality operation with top-notch service.

Dacula Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks said he was “aggravated and disgusted” with the decision.

“We had a perfect scenario to keep all branches open for 35 hours with full service,” he said. “I don’t like it. I don’t think our business association likes it. I don’t think our citizenry likes it. And I don’t think we’ve heard the end of it yet.”