Press Release

The Athens Drive Community Library will soon be replaced, patrons fight to keep it in the community

by

Liz Condo

(A shorter version of this press release, in PDF form, may be found here)

RALEIGH, N.C., November 25, 2024

Wake County voters recently approved a $142 million library bond which will be used to fund new libraries and to renovate existing libraries in the county. The Athens Drive Community Library, located inside of Athens Drive High School, is one of the libraries slated for replacement. When the high school is renovated in

2026, it will not include space for the public library.

A library under threat

The library has been a valued part of the community for 46 years, but it has also been threatened with closure three times in the last 15 years. In each case, patrons and members of the Friends of the Athens Drive Community Library spoke out against the closure and encouraged officials to find solutions to keep students at the high school safe and the library open. Advocates were ultimately successful in maintaining access to the library, though concessions (such as reduced hours of operation, fewer events than other libraries, fewer computers, no wi-fi access) had to be made.  After years of compromise on amenities to keep their library from closing, library patrons were promised that Athens Drive community would get a new library. It’s just not going to be in their

community.

Secrecy surrounds site selection

The Friends of the Athens Drive Community Library are very supportive of a new replacement library. “This replacement project that is on the books right now, we see as a great opportunity,” said Yevonne Brannon, chair and founder of the Friends of the Athens Drive Community Library. “It will take collaboration, creativity and a sincere commitment from all of the stakeholders.”

They also see new challenges with the proposed replacement. The first is a lack of transparency in the process of choosing a location. The organization discovered only after requesting public documents that Wake County commissioners were discussing relocating the library on a property 3 miles away, well outside of the neighborhoods that rely on its services. Public officials involved in the process have said repeatedly that no locations were being considered yet.

The second challenge community stakeholders face is a lack of input on the evaluation criteria for selecting a new location. The Library Commission prioritizes locations that are within a 10 minute drive for Wake County residents. The Friends of the ADCL say that overlooks much of what is great about the current location, and what they would hope for in a new library. The current library is walkable, across from a public bus stop and serves a diverse population. It is within walking distance to a public pool, the Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center and Lake Johnson Park.

The Friends of the ADCL recommended site criteria would look for a property within 1 mile of the existing site that encompasses at least 1.5 acres, is walkable, accessible by transit, and remains close to marginalized households. They have identified potential library sites within a mile of the current location, including 2 on and adjacent to the Athens Drive High School property.

Analysis compares walkability of current and proposed sites

The results of a walkshed analysis conducted by the organization found that 11,504 community members live within a 30 minute walk of the current library and that the median household income of that community is $61,412. The proposed site 3 miles away on Yates Mill Road is on a busy road that makes walking or biking to it unsafe for families. It is not accessible by public transportation, and the median household income of the community it would serve would be almost $20,000 higher than the current site. The Friends of the ADCL contend it would end up servicing a smaller population that is less racially diverse and with a higher income.

The organization is calling on public officials to be more transparent about the process of site selection and allow for public input. They have asked their members to speak out at public meetings, advocating for their library once again. They want to ensure the new library meets the needs of their community.

For media inquiries please contact The Friends of ADCL Chair Yevonne Brannon at foadcl@gmail.com

FAQs – The Athens Drive Community Library will soon be relocated. What you need to know.

Why is the Athens Drive Community Library being replaced?

The library has been located inside of Athens Drive High School since it opened in 1978. The school is scheduled to be closed for renovations in 2026. Renovation plans do not include space for a new library, so it must be relocated.

Who will pay for the new library?

In November 2024 Wake County voters approved a $142 million bond that included funds for the purchase of land to build the new library on as well as the cost of the building.

Where will the new library be located?

There has been no information released publicly about this yet. The Friends of Athens Drive Community Library obtained documents that suggest officials are considering land located on Yates Mill Pond Road that is 3 miles away. The Friends of the ADCL oppose this choice as the new location of the library.

Why do the Friends of the ADCL oppose a new location on Yates Mill Pond Road?

The current location is within a 30 minute walk for 11,504 community members. It is across the street from a public bus stop. It serves a diverse community with a median household income of $61,412.

The Yates Mill Pond Road site is located on a busy intersection that would make it unsafe for families to walk and bike to that location. There is no public transportation. That location would serve a less diverse community with higher median incomes.

What are the Friends of the ADCL asking of officials making the decision on the new library location?

First and foremost, they want transparency and public input into site selection. They are also asking that the Wake County School Board, City of Raleigh and the Wake County commissioners collaborate to find the best location for our community, taking into account accessibility to public transportation and walkability.

Do the Friends of the ADCL have a site in mind?

Members have identified a number of potential sites within a mile of the current library. One is owned by Wake County Schools and is located on the Athens Drive High School property. It is currently an open field sometimes used for parking. It backs up to Lake Johnson Park and the park’s popular trail system.

How can members of the public get involved?

Share your library visits on the Friends of the ADCL’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Talk about why the library is important to you and your family.

Email the City Council, Wake County Commission, or the Wake County Library Commission and ask them to keep the library in our community. Their contact information is available here.

The Friends of the ADCL is also recruiting concerned patrons to attend public meetings in person to make personal statements about the importance of the library to the community and show support. You can stay up-to-date about these opportunities by following on social media or the website.