St. Charles City-County Library

Library officials have tabled a plan to close three branches to fund other parts of the library system. Some library patrons and protesters said they worry the smaller branches won’t stay open for long.

More than 100 people protested library officials’ plan to close three branches to focus on larger, busier libraries. Protesters asked them to consider the communities that depend on the three branches.

A new St. Charles City-County library policy requires anyone under 18 to have a parent or guardian present to sign up for a library card. The library’s board approved the policy following new rules from Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. It creates a certification process for state-funded public libraries to adopt policies for age-appropriate reading materials.