The fight is on to gather more signatures for a petition designed to keep the downtown Renton library where it is over the Cedar River.

Stuart Avery, the spokesperson of the citizens group effort, received word March 2 from Renton City Clerk Bonnie Walton that the group was short 1,442 valid signatures.

The group needs a total of 6,375 valid signatures to certify the petition, The petition asks that any library improvements for a downtown library must occur at the existing library location and not at any other location unless the alternate proposed location for a downtown library is approved by a simple majority vote of Renton voters.

The petition group had submitted 7,263 signatures. More than 900 signatures were from people not registered to vote. Almost 900 signatures were also declared invalid because they were from people in the wrong district.

This weekend the citizen group of volunteers will attempt to collect the additional signatures required in what they are calling a “Super Saturday” canvassing drive. Volunteers are asked to meet outside library at 100 Mill Avenue at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 10.

Several people in the all-volunteer group met Monday night and decided that asking people if they are registered to vote in the City of Renton would be key in their renewed efforts.

“The canvassing campaign will be going to residential neighborhoods within city limits, so that should help with a better ratio of valid signatures as opposed to retail venues, which have a mixed traffic and less control,” said Avery.

The group intends to collect about 2,000 signatures by Monday to be safe.

Renton resident Richard Bray found out about the petition just three weeks ago. He and his family, which includes five children, have used the library and Liberty Park since 1991. Bray likened moving the library to moving such icon fixtures as the Pike Place Market.

“I’m invested in this community and I would like to see that landmark stay,” Bray said.

He will be a part of the “Super Saturday” rally to collect signatures.

“We’ve got some real drama going on to get 1,400 signatures by Monday,” Bray said. “That’s a real challenge.”

For Bray, the fight is personal; he said he wouldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t make an effort to keep the “wonderful” and “accessible” landmark at its present location.

Avery is also trying to rally volunteers to help him gather signatures.

“For Super Saturday, the petitioners are asking community members to volunteer three to five hours of their time to walk in groups through designated neighborhoods, going door to door,” Avery wrote in an email.

The volunteers will be grouped in small parties, equipped with petitions, signs, clipboards and supplies and assigned neighborhoods to canvas.