The Johnson County Library system’s latest budget reduction scenario for 2013 and 2014 no longer has three libraries on the chopping block.

The scenario presented at last month’s board meeting called for the closure of the Edgerton, Oak Park and Cedar Roe branches.

But at a meeting Thursday, about 20 members of the community spoke in favor of keeping the branches open and making cuts elsewhere.

“The value of a neighborhood library cannot be overestimated,” said Alice Capson of Overland Park.

County officials had asked the library staff to show what might be eliminated should the system have to make cuts up to $1.635 million, $2.45 million or $3.27 million over two years.

After the community comments Thursday, the staff presented a new proposal that still kept the Edgerton branch closed. The threshold to keep the Edgerton branch open is about $19,000, and the board voted to add that cost into the scenario, recognizing that its recommendation would miss the budget mark slightly.

“Having students or young people walk to another library in Gardner is unacceptable,” said Gary Duggan of Edgerton.

Duggan is a former school board member for the school district there.

Neighboring Gardner is about six miles up U.S. 56, which drew concerns about the possibility of children being able to get to the library on their own.

Supporters of the Oak Park library talked about its visible location off 95th Street and its community resources, including Spanish language services. Those speaking for the Cedar Roe branch highlighted its services for senior citizens.

The report is preliminary. The actual county budget will be formed later this spring after property values, which form the tax base, are known.