Winston-Salem Councilman Says Proposal Addresses 'Library Desert'

The city of Winston-Salem is considering a plan for a new library in an area of town that needs one. It's part of a larger plan to encourage economic development in this area.

The community near Waughtown Street in southeastern Winston-Salem is growing. There was a recent groundbreaking of the Quarry Park and a new police station is being built.

City councilman James Taylor grew up in the neighborhood. He says one thing that's missing is a library.

“This area has a library desert. We've heard of food deserts but we don't talk about library deserts,” says Taylor. “There are 32,000 people in the southeast portion of the city who don't have pedestrian access to a library.”

The proposed location is a vacant, rundown building that's known as the former Nissen Wagon Works facility.

Taylor says the goal is to try to put together a million dollar economic development project that also includes retail and restaurants in the library building.

Forsyth County is currently looking at building new libraries in Clemmons and Kernersville.

Taylor recently approached commissioners about adding one in the Southeast Ward. Winston-Salem City Council passed a measure to examine the cost and other aspects of the proposal.

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