I would like to comment on the proposed closure of the Carrboro Branch Library and the Cedar Grove Branch Library. I worked at at the Carrboro library from 1996-2003 and at Cedar Grove in 2007-08. My experience gives me unique insight into the vital role they play in the communities they serve.

At the Cedar Grove Branch, the collection might be small, but it is comprehensive. Parents and their small children enjoy the wonderful storytimes provided by Isabel Jackson. Our busiest time was after school when teenagers would come to use the computers for school projects or to catch up with friends. Later, their extended family would join them to check out books and maybe a movie for the family to watch together. These kids, and in many cases their parents, did not have transportation. We also had several people who came in daily to use the computer to apply online for jobs. Most of these people did not have computers or Internet access at home. In fact, at least at that time, the library was the only place in that community that had high-speed Internet.

At the Carrboro Branch, the facility and the collection are much larger and many, many more will be disenfranchised if the library closes. People who work during the day cannot use the Cybrary for computer access. Not everyone can easily get to the Chapel Hill Public Library, and it has already said it cannot handle the traffic it has now. If Carrboro closes, Chapel Hill is certain to institute a steep charge for people who live outside the municipality which will be prohibitively expensive for the very people who need library services the most. They cannot afford a computer. They cannot buy books for themselves or for their children. They cannot afford to pay for entertainment, which is provided free at the library in the way of storytimes and other family programming as well as DVDs (the latter being something not offered by Chapel Hill).

Why is this even being considered? The answer is the county made a spectacular mistake. Without input from the community, or even the Library Task Force, they passed the building of a new library facility in Hillsborough without thought for how they would fund the extra staffing required by its faulty design. And now they want the citizens of Southwest Orange County and Cedar Grove, and even Chapel Hill (if Carrboro closes, I suspect it won't be much fun to fight the crowds there) to suffer for their mistake.

It goes without saying that there is no free transportation to Hillsborough. So while the small community of Hillsborough will enjoy its new library, many many more will be left with nothing. I live in White Cross. It takes me 15-20 minutes to get to the Hillsborough Library, 20-25 to get to the Chapel Hill Public Library, but less than 10 to get to Carrboro Branch Library. I urge all citizens to take action. Don't let the Orange County commissioners determine who shall have and who shall have not. Speak up for yourselves and the people in our community who may not be as fortunate as you.

Alexandra Brown is the treasurer of the Friends of the Carrboro Library.