To all Garden City residents and Garden City Public Library cardholders:

In preparation for their anticipated closing due to lack of funding, the Garden City Public Library has announced that the last day they will lend materials is Thursday, May 26, 2011. GCPL will remain open to the public to use materials within the building until June 25, 2011.

As a member of The Library Network cooperative, the Garden City Public Library had a reciprocal borrowing agreement in place that allowed you to use neighboring libraries. Because GCPL will not be lending any materials, that agreement is void. While we here at the Canton Public Library are happy to reciprocate with other communities, that reciprocity is based on mutual sharing; we cannot bear the financial burden of serving Garden City residents when Garden City is eliminating funding for their library. As a result, the last day that Canton Public Library will honor Garden City Public Library cards is May 26, 2011.

Beginning May 27, 2011, while you may enter the Canton Public Library and use library resources within the building, we will not honor Garden City Public Library cards for checkout of materials or for program registration. As always, non-resident cards may be purchased to receive full services at the Canton Public Library only, at a cost equivalent to what the average Canton property owner pays in annual taxes to support Canton library services. That rate is currently $170 per year.

If you have concerns regarding library services in Garden City, please contact your Garden City City Manager and Council.

It is a sad day when a community closes its library. All of us here at the Canton Public Library remain hopeful that the Garden City Council will find a way to continue to provide much-needed library services to their residents. When library services are once again established in Garden City, we welcome the opportunity to discuss resuming reciprocity between our communities.

Sincerely,

Eva M. Davis, Director