You never know just how much you need a library, that is until it closes.  That is what many residents in Dade County,Georgia are learning after the public library closed it's doors.

On May 23rd, the Dade County Public Library officially closed its doors to the public because of MOLD and this shutdown definitely changes the way students are getting around their summer reading.

Martha Stinnett is a 15-year old sophomore at Dade County High School. She explains, “We have to go to a different place for books.”  This summer Stinnett says, she has ten books on her required summer reading list.  Stinnett adds, “I haven't got started on it because I don't have a library to go to.”

The Dade County Public Library building has padlocks on its doors with most all of the books are still inside.

When you walk up to the library doors, you will immediately find it's closed with plenty of notices posted. The Dade County notice explains the mold problem but also says, there is no set date for the library to reopen.  Lecia Eubanks is the Assistant Director of the Cherokee Regional Library System.

She says, they shut down after they discovered mold growing on the walls, under the wallpaper and even in the air return units. She says it all started with a leaky roof.  Eubanks adds, they've taken measures to provide as many services to Dade County's Public Library patrons as possible.

Eubanks explains, “We took it very seriously. To deny people a library is a serious matter and we found an alternate spot. The Commissioners have let us use the Commission room two days a week and we have a sampling of books.”

Five hundred books were brought to the Dade County Administration building, including the high school's required summer reading.  Tuesdays and Wednesday's library workers come to the Commission room and set up a temporary library for those who will come.

Eubanks says, “I think we all know the library is important. I think when you're deprived of the library, then all of the sudden you find out just how important the library is.”  Eubanks says they have applied for a $200,000 dollar grant from the state to make the needed repairs to re-open.  The county would have to provide $20,000 dollars in matching funds.

Even if all that happens, the earliest the library can reopen would be in November.
 

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