Hyde County citizens turned out to voice their support of Beaufort-Hyde-Martin (BHM) Library systems during the September 17 meeting of Hyde County Commissioners.

Discussion and action of the future of Hyde remaining a member of the BHM Library System was held over from the September 4 meeting.  At Monday’s meeting, Hyde Commissioners took no action to change current library services in the county.

In addition to avid readers, members of the Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society, current and former librarians, volunteers and historians stood to voice support of the BHM Library system in Hyde County.

“Hyde County is a poor county,” said Isabelle Holmes, Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society (HCHGS) president.  “But we don’t have to be poorly educated.”

Kids, visitors and all walks of life use the Ocracoke Library, as proven by several letters read by Ocracoke resident Carol Pahl.  Ocracoke Library volunteers spoke during public comment to say they see the need for the library first-hand.  “I can’t imagine this community without it’s library,” said librarian Ann Borland.  She stated the Ocracoke Library was the most used in the BHM Library system.

“It’s a meeting place,” said Leslie Lanier, avid reader and Ocracoke bookstore owner.

Commissioner Chair Sharon Spencer clarified the board’s objective on the library issue. “It was never our intention to do away with the library,” said Spencer.  She said in tight budget times, the board just wanted more information about services provided.

Commissioners have designated $37,000 in funding for the BHM library for the 2012-13 budget year. Due to budget cuts on the state and local levels, several BHM Library services have been discontinued during the past few years, including the book mobile that brought books and resources to shut-ins and local neighborhood children.

“The library plays an indispensible role,” said Ocracoke resident Fred Westervelt.  He suggested the board find better solutions to pinching pennies.

Friends of Ocracoke Library have stepped up to assist with services on the island.  County Manager Mazie Smith commended the non-profit group, reporting they have raised considerable funds to benefit the library.  On the mainland, stakeholders are looking to revamp volunteer efforts to help steer and support the Mattamuskeet Library.

Requesting continued support of the Mattamuskeet BHM Library, Holmes said the HCHGS maintains a portion of the library with records, maps and important archives to Hyde’s history.  The guestbook at the location, also maintained by HCHGS, shows names of not only locals, but folks from all over the state and across the nation.

Betty Mann, a member of the HCHGS board of directors, estimated some 1,500 books and publications in the HCHGS arsenal of research materials are housed in the Mattamuskeet Library.  In addition to the HCHGS resources, she pointed out the Mattamuskeet Library is home to numerous other research tools, such as computers and literature.  Notably, it’s the only research facility on mainland Hyde for non-students.

HCHGS board member Al Schmitt used historical references to prove his point (the library was the second element established in America’s oldest town of Bath).  He also said he regularly takes his grandchildren to the library to check out “books he used to read.”

By not taking action, commissioners opted to keep library services as they are in Hyde County. “I think we need to support it,” said Commissioner Anson Byrd.