By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s senior city council member is trying to put to rest ideas to move the public library from its current location on Olive Street.

Alderman Karen Schmidt garnered support from seven of her colleagues to put on Monday’s council agenda a resolution affirming the library board’s decision to stay in the southeastern part of Downtown Bloomington, and to expand there.

Only Alderman Amelia Buragas and Mayor Tari Renner’s names were not listed as supporting Schmidt’s request.

Buragas chaired the Downtown Task Force, which looked at building a new library and Connect Transit transfer center to replace the aging Market Street garage in the northern portion of the downtown.

At a town hall meeting two months ago, Schmidt expressed displeasure Mayor Renner scheduled a joint meeting of aldermen, library board trustees, and the transit board to discuss the Market Street proposal. The session did not appear to change anyone’s mind about the project.

In her resolution, Schmidt said the library board’s desire to stay at the current site comes after 18 years of “expansion conversations, community focus groups, paid studies, and plans.”

Schmidt’s resolution does not include a commitment of public money for library expansion.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].