Fire Marshal's Report Boosts Crozet Library Campaign

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Updated: 8:33 PM Nov 7, 2011 Fire Marshal's Report Boosts Crozet Library Campaign A new report by the Albemarle County fire marshal is setting a capacity limit at the Crozet Library. Advocates for a new library say the report boosts their case. Posted: 2:13 PM Nov 7, 2011 Reporter: Jim Hanchett Email Address: Jim.Hanchett@newsplex.com

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November 7, 2011

The Albemarle County Fire Inspector is telling the board that runs the Crozet Library that a limit must be placed on the number of patrons inside the building at any one time.

Library Director John Halliday told CBS19 the county's Community Development department capped the occupancy at 50, including staff.

"The library will need to begin turning people away from library programs," Halliday said. "This is sad news, especially for children, and especially in a time when we are all concerned about our children's reading abilities."

Halliday continued, saying the capacity limit puts children in Crozet and western Albemarle County at a disadvantage compared to peers living in communities with adequate library facilities that match population size.

Albemarle County has long been considering building a new library in Crozet and has the land and a new parking lot ready for when the money becomes available.

Halliday said the inspector's report also concludes too many materials are stored in the renovated train station used for the library. He said the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Board will now ask the county for money so it can build a temporary storage structure in the library's parking lot.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Joe Crozet Location: Crozet on Nov 8, 2011 at 07:40 PM

Will numbers be given out now in the library parking lot? Will time limits be placed on patrons? Will we have to RSVP in advance to attend programs at Crozet Library? It's amazing sometimes the way money is spent even when obvious needs are left wanting. For crying out loud... build the Crozet library already. -Joe

Posted by: david on Nov 8, 2011 at 07:59 AM

Wow...this is sounding like a very serious situation. I urge the Board to close the library immediately to prevent the loss of life should a fire break out. I can't believe this hasn't been done already.

Posted by: Kim Connolly on Nov 7, 2011 at 04:25 PM

If the county built the library NOW, we could take advantage of low construction prices. If they gave preference to bidders from Albemarle County based commercial contractors (and there are several) they would also be helping create jobs and boost our local economy. And in the end, we would have a building that would become the heart of our community with great programs and meeting space for local groups. Good students are good readers - let's encourage that.

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