Magness officials fight to keep parking spaces for patrons

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

ROBBINS

Downtown parking space is a concern for many citizens. The Main Street project is limiting parking in some areas while construction is in the works, but eventually the design is to produce more space and easier parking downtown.

Meanwhile, some private parking areas are suffering from the overflow, one of those being Magness Library. The library’s parking has been cramped in the past, and though additional property was purchased by the library and converted into an expanded parking area, the facility now finds itself once again in parking difficulties due to the use of the parking area by non-patrons of the library.

“Even though we’ve expanded the parking lot, we still only have room for so many cars,” library director Mary Robbins said. The library has been offering a number of new programs and this, along with the remodeling of the children’s section, has increased traffic in the facility. According to Robbins, the attendance at Thursday’s Storytime alone has nearly tripled, with 56 children at a recent program.

The lot, just behind the library, has been posted as private parking, but Robbins says this doesn’t seem to have much effect.

“Now we have all these people, in spite of the fact that we have this large sign, who think it’s a public parking lot,” Robbins said. “On days that they have court, which is also on Thursday, that is the worst day.”

Robbins and library board chairman Pat Bigbee both say they want to be accommodating, but there just isn’t enough room.

“We have got to get the message out that parking lot is for library visitors and staff,” Robbins said. “It is not a public parking lot.”

Bigbee wanted to make it clear the money for the land to expand the lot was raised by the library, and was not part of the library’s funding from the city or county. Those funds are used exclusively for library operations.

Bigbee and Robbins said it is important to let people know there is extra parking available during the Main Street construction, and that Chris Wilson, Main Street director, has maps with those areas designated which may be a help for some citizens.

Both Bigbee and Robbins said they hope everyone understands they are asking for help from local residents in this situation, and don’t intend to offend or inconvenience anyone.

“We know the parking is difficult downtown right now,” Bigbee said, “and we would like to accommodate people, but our first duty is to service our patrons. We just have to have it reserved for those who use our library.”