Residents Irate Over Imminent Library Closure

Friday afternoon's announcement at the Dearborn Library Commission meeting that is causing a stir among residents.

The actual recommendation from Mayor Jack O'Reilly as to which branch–, or –will be defunded in the upcoming city budget is not expected to be delivered to City Council for deliberation until April 15. Residents, however, are already weighing in on which branch they think should be the one to be slashed, or how they think the city could afford to keep all the branches open.

"If I had to choose a branch to close, I'd prefer to close Bryant and move the Chamber of Commerce and Dearborn Welcome Center to Henry Ford Centennial," wrote resident Matt Burpee on Dearborn Patch's Facebook page. "That would leave a small neighborhood branch on both the east and the west side with Centennial in the middle."

However, added Burpee, "I wouldn't be opposed to paying more in taxes to keep all of the branches (and the local pools) open."

Library Commission Chairman Marcel Pultorak and Library Director Maryanne Bartles said, after meeting with Mayor O'Reilly last week, either the Snow or Esper branch is most likely to be the one that closes. Also, the mayor has indicated that even with raising mills, some services will still need to be cut to close the $20 million budget deficit the city is facing.

The prospect of closing the Esper Branch, in particular, has caused some to call for a collective response to tell City Council that residents are not happy.

"I feel like I've been punched in the gut," said resident Barbara Fox-hajj Houssien on Dearborn Patch's Facebook page. "Esper is next to my kids' school. I have been going there at least four times a month for the last eight years. The parking is perfect and the staff is like family.

"Please not Esper!"

One resident, Souha Chahine Khanafer, has started a petition titled Keep Esper Branch Library Opened.

The general mentality, though, is that no matter which branch closes, it will be a huge loss to the community.

"It is very sad that they are even thinking of doing this," said former Garden Club President Anina Bachrach. "Libraries are one of the important backbones of a community."

One of the city's oldest organizations, the Garden Club was responsible for the opening of the first Dearborn library in 1924–what's now known as the Bryant Branch. Spearheaded by club members Clara Ford and her sister-in-law, Katharine Wright Bryant, it was redesignated as the Mason Branch in 1970 and renamed for Bryant in 1977.

There is no word yet as to whether the city will hold a special meeting allowing residents to voice their opinions on the cuts.

Stay with Dearborn Patch as this story develops and share your opinions on the library closure and other city budget cuts here.