"Unless there are enough members who want to vote on a library, it won't get voted on," Galluccio said. "As usual, it's up to the democratic will of this body. The chair can't mandate a vote."

The discussion was only a microcosm of the debate that has been a constant throughout the entire library selection process, with pressure to make a final decision colliding with a desire to make the most informed decision.

"I know that we're all very anxious to fulfill the promises we made in our campaigns," said Councillor Kathleen L. Born. "And we think that we will choose a site for the library and we'll get the project underway by the start of the holiday season."

"But I think that each of us want to be sure that the decision we make is as informed as it possibly can be," Born added. "I want to insure everyone that there is a difference between delaying, and waiting for the most informed decision."

Prolonged wrangling over library construction is not unprecedented--similar discussions took 20 years in Newton and nearly half a century in Boston.

But while the council continues to make site visits to formulize opinions, several councillors say that a site should be determined on Dec. 11.

"Quite frankly this has been talked to death," Maher says. "And I think it's time for action. All of us have constituencies. All of us have supporters on both sides. But I think it's time the council stands up and lets its position be known."

--Staff writer Imtiyaz H. Delawala can be reached at delawala@fas.harvard.edu. Staff writer Andrew S. Holbrook can be reached at holbr@fas.harvard.edu.