Mayoral Candidates Agree With Moving Library to Clayton High School. Do You Agree?

The St. Louis County Library has expressed an interest in relocating the Clayton Mid-County Branch from its current location to the Clayton High School campus.

It would give the students better access, but would move it away from some neighborhoods. Director Charles Pace told Patch a decision is six to eight months away. What are your thoughts?

The candidates in the Clayton mayoral race in April—Ward 3 Alderman Alex Berger III, Ward 2 Alderwoman Michelle Harris and former alderman Harold Sanger—all see benefits to a move. They answered the question during a public debate on March 14. 

Berger said he has residents in Ward 3 who aren't happy about the library moving away from their neighborhood, but on the other hand, libraries connect citizens of all generations in the community, and the current location probably isn't adequate for what they want to accomplish in the future.

Harris said it's great that the library system is considering Clayton for reinvestment, and that she would be happy to see a state-of-the-art library next to the school. If it moved, the current location's property could become taxable too, she said. 

Sanger said the plan would make the library more accessible to high school students, and would improve parking, which he said is needed. He added that he would love to see the current spot become taxable too. 

Each candidate's answer is recorded in the video that accompanies this article.

What do you think? Do you support the library moving to the high school campus? Let us know in the comments below.