As a way to save money, Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell has suggested closing East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta. In an Aug. 22 statement, Birrell recalled the library system’s history, saying “consolidation of our libraries has been a plan for years.”
Now the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Arts Center, formerly the East Marietta Library, is under construction about five miles from the leased space for the East Cobb Library although the East Cobb Library is the second busiest in the county.
There are also two regional libraries within a seven-mile radius of East Cobb Library, Birrell noted.
“To own one space and lease another that duplicates services within five miles of each other is not being a good steward of taxpayer monies,” Birrell said.
Birrell also is suggesting a transition time of six months to one year before closing the East Cobb Library after opening the Sewell Mill Library.
So far, around 1,300 people have signed a petition at change.org, requesting the commissioners keep open the East Cobb Library. Danielle Zhao, the petition’s organizer, said this library had nearly 250,000 visits and 350,000 checked-out items in 2016.
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