Delaware! Tonight, a public vote will determine the fate of one of the state's most important libraries

Walter Stabosz writes, "Delaware was the first state to ratify the US constitution, giving it the moniker 'The First State.' It is also the second smallest state, and has only three counties. Tonight in Delaware's most populous county, New Castle County, there will be a vote that may decide the fate of a library built in one of New Castle's most underserved and at-risk communities.


The 40,000-square-foot facility know as the Rt 13 Library and Innovation Center, features a library, work spaces, a computer lab, a STEM lab with Maker Space, a learning commercial kitchen for job training, and a range of on-site programming.

Those voting are the 13 members of the New Castle County Council. They have to make the choice to either raise taxes (by less than the cost of a monthly Netflix subscription), or to cut services for all 540,000 New Castle residents. Services cuts will affect emergency services, communities services libraries, and parks.

New Castle Save: Our Services is a web site created by a New Castle County resident with the goal of raising public awareness of the vote, and to convince the County Council to pass the budget.

The vote is tonight is open to the public with time alloted for public comment. It is at 6:30PM in the Council Chambers at 800 N. French Street. Wilmington, DE 19801. There are multiple parking garages nearby.