Support Statement for Locating South County Regional Library
and Historical Archives Center at Edison College Campus
TEAM Punta Gorda supports the concept of locating
the South County Regional Library and Historical Archives
Center at the Edison College Campus. We have gained input
from a number of our members as well as from our Advisory
Council which represents a number of private and local
stakeholders We also concur with the recommendation of
County staff that the Punta Gorda Branch Library remain in
operation.
Having the Regional Library and Historic Archive Center at
the Edison Campus makes sense for a number of reasons.
First, the potential synergies associated with having such
an important facility on a college campus are limitless. The
Edison Campus is conveniently located and attractive. Some
complications and costs associated with infrastructure would
be mitigated by locating the facility at the Edison Campus.
The archives center would provide a long-needed central and
permanent site for many public and private collections which
exist out in our community today. Planning for the future
with full internet and digitizing capability will further
make this archive not only secure but ensure its use as a
valuable research facility.
As one of our citizens put it however, “the devil is in the
details.” We at TEAM would ask therefore, that as County
officials work through specific implementation issues--such
as where on the Edison campus the facility will be located
away from the interstate--ample opportunity for public input
be provided.
Some of our members, for example, are concerned that the
location of a library at this site may be less convenient to
some library patrons, especially our elderly population.
Continuing operation of the Punta Gorda Branch is one step
toward addressing this possible concern.
Thank you for inviting our input and don’t hesitate to call
on us if we can be of any assistance with moving this
project forward.
Judy Brentano, CEO
January 9, 2007
(This statement was presented to the Charlotte County
Commission on January 9, 2007)
