Atlanta Daily World

May Sell Old Auburn Avenue Branch Library

The Atlanta Board of Aldermen Tuesday authorized City Land Agent H. B. Andrews to begin first steps in a move that will probably end with the sale of the building that once housed the Auburn Avenue Branch of the Atlanta Public Library.

The aldermen by voice vote unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the city land agent to begin appraisal of the building to ascertain its value for future sale.

The library branch, located at 333 Auburn Ave., N. E., was officially shut down several weeks ago following reports that it had run into difficulties with circulation and rising operational costs.

The resolution introduced before the aldermanic board Tuesday by Ald. Milton Farris, chairman of the aldermanic library board, observed that the City of Atlanta had discontinued using the library branch building.

The resolution said that "since said library has been discontinued and the building is now vacant. It is deemed to be to the best interest of the City of Atlanta to sell the property."

The action authorizing the appraisal Tuesday was the first step in what is eventually to be the death of the Auburn Ave. library branch that has existed and served Northeast Atlanta citizens for many years.

A hint of the closure came during the spring when the director of the library branch reported to the Atlanta Library Board that she had for several months experienced a drop in circulation and a simultaneous upswing in operational costs.

At that late spring meeting, the chairman of the library board said the branch would probably be closed sometime this year. The prediction was fulfilled last month when announcements came that the library had been officially closed to the public.

Aldermanic library board officials said Tuesday that there is a very high likelihood that another library branch would be constructed in another neighborhood better suited for successful operation.

One official promised that if enough money is gained from the sale of the Auburn Ave., library branch building, another branch would be constructed elsewhere in the city.

The official said money derived from the sale of the Auburn Ave., branch would be plunged into a fund for a new branch library. "At least that is how we are thinking now," the official said.