Lansing residents react to possible city library move

LANSING, Mich. (WILKES) – The Metropolitan District Library Board held its first meeting Wednesday since announcing they may be moving out of downtown Lansing. However, with no new information about where or if the library was moving, Lansing residents still showed up to the meeting to express their disappointment.

“I believe Lansing needs to explore all options to keep this space accessible and safe for this community. With the number of homes built and planned downtown, the number of citizens this space serves continues to grow,” said one Lansing resident.

Everyone who spoke at the public discussion expressed their disapproval.

“My concern is that the new location will not necessarily occupy the same space for a book hole or other type of store, and Friends will have to move to an all-volunteer model, which many others are doing and few are able to do. the same donations that we give,” said Virginia Chambers, president of the Friends of Lansing Libraries.

Chambers says the Friends of Lansing Libraries donate about $15,000 a year directly to the library because of the high volume of patrons at the downtown branch.

As for another resident, he thinks the board needs to take more community feedback into account.

“Think big, dust off the 2008 plan, figure out what’s worth keeping and what’s not worth keeping, and build from there. But before you go there, I would encourage you to talk to your community, find out what they want, what their needs and wants are,” said another Lansing resident.

CADL chief executive Jenny Marr says no real progress has been made to date. They continue to work with the city of Lansing, but she said it will be a long process.

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