Big party at ImaginOn?

Are the open spaces and brightly colored walls at uptown’s ImaginOn the perfect spot for a 600-person cocktail reception during the Democratic National Convention?

Possibly. A nonprofit group has asked the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system about renting the space, home for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and other programs.

The library’s board voted last week to charge a $7,500 rental fee for the open areas, and $9,500 for the open areas and theater. That’s the standard fee for rentals to nonprofits, plus $1,500 for cleaning and administration.

Former county commissioner Darrel Williams heads a board subcommittee screening groups who want to use library facilities during the DNC.

“We have wonderful facilities like ImaginOn and the (Main) Library,” the closest ones to Time Warner Cable Arena, Williams said. “It might help them, and help us get a few dollars as well.”

But don’t expect convention rentals to solve the library system’s cash woes.

The library is still recovering from last year’s $10 million budget cut from the county. “We don’t expect to have a big budget infusion with this,” Williams said.