Altamonte Springs residents urge city not to close beloved library

To Catherine Jensen, the librarians and visitors at the Altamonte Springs Library have long felt like family.

So Jensen was “shocked” and “dismayed” when city leaders announced plans this week to permanently close the library at the end of September as part of cutting next fiscal year’s budget.

“I find it unconscionable,” a visibly angry Jensen said Thursday at the library — a place she’s visited at least once a week for the past three decades.

“It’s a community resource that cannot be replaced,” she said. “At the very least, it’s a place where you can bring your children and know that they are safe and learning.”

She’s among scores of Altamonte Springs residents urging city leaders not to shutter the library that started inside a small donated cottage in the mid-20th century. The city took it over in 1977 and expanded it, and ever since the facility has been the only city-owned and operated library in Seminole County.

In explaining the closure, City Manager Frank Martz said it would be tough to balance the budget for next fiscal year — which starts Oct. 1 — without chopping some services due to escalating costs for insurance, utilities, public safety and salary increases for employees. The city also has to replace many of its vehicles.

Expenditures in the city’s general fund — which pays for operating the library — are estimated to jump nearly 16% next year to $52.5 million compared to $45.3 million in the current year, according to budget documents.

“We crunched the numbers, but unfortunately we’ve had to cut a number of things,” Martz said. “We had to make some very, very hard choices.”

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Some of the additional cuts to next year’s budget include a monthly magazine the city has published for years and sent to residents’ homes along with some recreational programs.

City Commissioner Jim Turney — who calls himself a “heavy library user” — said closing it makes financial sense because of rising costs for other services.

He pointed out that the county has two larger branch libraries nearby: on North Hunt Club near Apopka and on Oxford Road in Casselberry. City residents can use their current library cards to check out books and materials at any county library.

Still, Turney urged residents to attend commission meetings in August to express their disapproval of closing the library: “I am open to changing my mind.”

It’s costing about $460,000 this year to operate the library, according to budget documents. Next year — if the library stays open — the cost is estimated to rise to nearly $600,000 because of maintenance and salary increases, Martz said. In 2023, the city spent just over $500,000 on the library because of an  increase number of positions.

But some residents said they’re angry the city never held a public meeting to gauge the community’s thoughts on closing their beloved library.

An online petition started Monday in support of the library urges officials to rethink their decision. By Friday afternoon the petition had 551 signatures.

“It’s unfortunate that this is happening,” said Janet Field, who visits the library about twice a week. “It’s super convenient to come here rather than going to a Seminole library.”

Harrison Shames, 32, grew up in Altamonte Springs and recalls checking out books and attending programs as a child. He now takes his own young children to those same programs.

“I’m very disappointed,” Shames said. “A library is part of what makes a community.”

He pointed out that Maitland — just about two miles south in neighboring Orange County — is going to build a new, larger $19 million library after residents in March approved a bond referendum for it.

His father, David Shames, said Altamonte Springs could save money to help keep the library open by closing its doors one or two days a week — along with cutting other city services. It’s currently open six days a week.

In 1959, retired schoolteacher and avid reader Anne VanAlen Cline decided to put her collection of about 13,000 books to use and started the Altamonte Springs Community Library at the present location. After the city took it over in 1977, the current one-story building on Maitland Avenue just south of State Road 436 was constructed in 1985.

The city hasn’t decided what to do with the building. Many of the 42,471 books and movies in the library collection will likely be donated to the Seminole County Library System, schools and other libraries.

Martz said current employees will be paid through the end of the year. “It’s heartbreaking for all of us,” he said.

Ivana Molina, who immigrated to Altamonte Springs from Venezuela about 10 years ago, said the library’s foreign language program helped her learn English. She held back tears while talking about how her 14-year-old and 9-year-old children often visit the library.

“They are closing something that benefits children and families,” Molina said. “I worry now because many kids today are playing video games and watching movies … Books help make your mind more brilliant.”

The last day to check out books and materials is Aug. 31 and the last day to return items is Sept. 14. The library will close Sept. 30.