Hundreds of people have signed an online petition to maintain a historic library in downtown Glendale.
The building currently functioning as the Velma Teague Library was constructed and opened in 1971. The library was initially establish at the Murphy Park site in 1917 at 58th and Glendale avenues.
According to a design study update submitted to the City Council by Jean Moreno, community services director, the library "is nearing the end of its useful life and is in need of significant investment to continue to serve the community into the future." Concerns range from functionality improvements to a lack of study rooms and quiet spaces.
The city now has to consider what happens to the library in the future, including the possibility of demolishing the original building and relocating the library.
Glendale resident Kathy Hoynes-Goreé says she and others are having communication issues with the city.
“We do have thoughts and we would be more than willing to discuss it with the council, with the library board, with the city manager, but they don't engage the public, they don't come to us," she said.
She supports the efforts to keep the library.
“There are people in Glendale, in Phoenix, in Peoria, that have used this library for many years and since they were children, their children, their grandchildren, generations have used the existing Velma Teague Library," she said.
Hoynes-Goreé says there will be an opportunity to speak out in support of the library at the Oct. 22 City Council meeting.
