PORTLAND — Library and school leaders are expected to meet with Riverton residents Monday to discuss the future of the community’s branch library.

The Riverton branch library was slated to be closed this summer as part of the library budget for fiscal 2011. But the City Council decided during its budget deliberations in May to give the library $90,000 to keep the branch open for one more year.

The extra time was meant to give Riverton branch users and the library time to come up with an alternative way to serve the remote neighborhood.

The Riverton Community Association on June 8, though, found out the branch library at Riverton Community School may undergo major changes sooner than expected. Association members were told that the School Department and adult education are after the space, and may take at least part of it as soon as September.

Chip Edgar, president of the RCA, said the association has organized a meeting with school Superintendent James C. Morse Sr. and the city Recreation Division to discuss the proposed changes.

The June 8 meeting, with library Director Steve Podgajny, had been planned to discuss the future of the branch, including the possibility of automatic check-outs and a smaller space.

The meeting Monday is at scheduled for 7 p.m., although Edgar earlier this week was still trying to secure a place to meet. The neighborhood association can be reached at rcaportland@yahoo.com.

Kate Bucklin can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or kbucklin@theforecaster.net.

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