Mixson said 67 percent of those patrons in a recent survey said parking is troublesome with 76 percent of them using their cars to come to the library.
"That says we have a lot of people using the building and they are having problems with parking," Mixson said, adding that the building has 60 parking spaces and it could easily use 200.
Mixson said it is time for city and county officials to start planning for the future and that future calls for a new and larger building, at least an expansion of the current facility, constructed 43 years ago in 1967.
"Unfortunately for us, the future is already here because we need the space," Mixson said. "We need a plan, the community needs a plan."
Board members also learned from Mixson they could expect a five percent state funding cut adding up to about $21,000.
"This year the state revenue picture is not very good but we can afford that," Mixson said. "I think we can figure out how to not do some things and put them off for another year."
Mixson said the system draws 15 percent of its total funding from the state through the Board of Regents, adding that smaller library systems would struggle to absorb the state cut.
According to Mixson library patrons say there is not enough parking at the main branch in downtown Gainesville
Mixson said the system draws 15 percent of its total funding from the state through the Board of Regents
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/8/231708