Meetings between Symmes Valley school and Briggs Lawrence County Public Library boards could lead to branch library service in that area, officials said.

Wednesday, September 01, 1999

Meetings between Symmes Valley school and Briggs Lawrence County Public Library boards could lead to branch library service in that area, officials said.

"The next step is for the building committee to meet with the board of education," library executive director Christine Hunt said.

That meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 20, at Symmes Valley’s regular board meeting.

From there, the library board hopes to start brainstorming, Mrs. Hunt said.

"We were approached a year or so ago by the school system, but we were in the midst of the Chesapeake renovations, so we didn’t have the time," she said.

Preliminary meetings during the summer found both boards interested in the idea, Mrs. Hunt said.

"I’ve been on the board for several years and we’ve talked about getting a library out in this area for quite a while," Symmes Valley board president Evan Wall said.

"I consider this to be another priority for education and for the people of the Symmes Valley district, children and adults as well," he said.

"The consensus is, I feel, a library would be a necessity – not a luxury, but a necessity."

A Symmes Valley-Briggs partnership would benefit both the library and the public, Mrs. Hunt said.

"We do have a bookmobile stop in Aid, but that’s once every two weeks," Mrs. Hunt said. "With this, we would, in effect, be better able to serve our customers out there."

A branch housed at a school building would give the public more time to access books and the library could save on major construction, library board member Bob Griffith said.

There are no exact plans yet, but it can be successful if everyone tries, Griffith said.

"We’d rather just use some of the school space, if possible, at least for a year," he said. "When we talk to their board we can discuss options."

Library board members could use that year for an evaluation of library use – to see if construction is needed in the future, Griffith said.

Symmes Valley board member Albert Childers said the school system seems favorable to the branch idea, but it must be discussed.

"I think it’s a good idea," Childers said. "Our people out here need a library to go to."

The Symmes Valley area is growing and it’s only natural to look toward the future, just like River Valley Health System officials did with the Aid medical clinic, he said.

"We have a good working relationship (with the library) and I’m willing as a board member," Childers said. "We have space available. It would just be working out the details."

A Symmes Valley expansion is not the only growth planned by library officials this year.

The building committee is currently discussing expansion of Ironton’s main branch, because of space demands and the need for more modern facilities.