SENECA, Mo. (AP) - Community leaders in the southwest Missouri town of Seneca are rallying to keep their library open.
The Newton County Library Board recently voted to close the Seneca library branch. The decision came after voters rejected a levy increase that would have raised $7 million annually for the Neosho-Newton County Library system.
The Joplin Globe (http://bit.ly/RK5u0a) reported that the money would have been used to expand the Neosho library and pay for deferred maintenance.
Overall, the proposal was rejected 1,687 to 940. In Seneca, it was defeated by an even larger margin of 175 to 30.
The Seneca branch closure is set to take effect Nov. 1 and will save $67,000 annually.
But now library backers are circulating a petition. They want the board's decision rescinded or postponed for a year.
---
Information from: The Joplin Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com