As a resident of York County, I am astonished at the growth in our population. Our community has expanded tremendously, and our libraries do not meet the demands of our burgeoning population. Our libraries should be more than just buildings with books; they should serve as a beacon of knowledge, community, and culture. 

The United States has a ratio of one public library to every 19,000 residents. However, with a population of over 300,000, York County has only five branches to cater to the needs of its populace. This pales in comparison to the national standard and feels like a staggering understatement for the size and potential of our community (American Library Association, 2017 Census Data).

We lack sufficient locations to adequately serve our community, and the existing ones are outdated and in need of modernization.  The last time our community invested in library facilities was in 2003. 

1. Rock Hill library was built in 1982
2. Clover library was built in 1984
3. Lake Wylie library was built in 1989
4. Fort Mill library was built in 2000
5. York library was built in 2003

Our plea is simple yet essential. We seek a professional community needs assessment conducted by the York County Library Board. This will shed light on the inadequacies of our current library system, aid in the projection of our community's future requirements, and form the basis for appropriate strategic growth initiatives.

The data from such an assessment will provide concrete evidence to secure funding, develop new branches, and upgrade our current amenities better to serve our growing and dynamic population.

Our libraries should be representative of the York County we know - innovative, inclusive, and ever-evolving. Let us join together to demand the York County Library Board to conduct a professional community needs assessment. Sign this petition to voice your support for better libraries in our communities.