Havelock library to reduce hours in light of budget cuts
By Drew C. Wilson, Havelock News, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The new schedule is 12 hours less per week than the facility had been operating.
The budget for the library for fiscal year 2014-15 is
Simpson said that after cuts in book purchases, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, movies and audio book, the budget still could not be balanced.
"The only thing we had left to turn to was to look at operating hours at the library. We have been able to decrease the cost of our medical insurance, but that still wasn't enough, so the only thing left to do was cut personnel hours and cut the operating hours of the library. We have not laid any employees off. We didn't want to do that if we didn't have to," Simpson said. "We have an operating budget for the year. It's pretty slender, but we can at least make it work on that."
The library had requested
Simpson said that she will be meeting with a committee established by the
"It's not over yet," said Commissioner McCabe. "I'm trying to get some money for the
"Our goal is to just simply walk through what we understand the numbers are so that we are all on the same page," said Commissioner Dacey. "At this stage in the discussions that I have had with the other two commissioners, I believe that our goal is to try to make certain that whatever solution is available yields the greatest number of hours of staying open and having the library made available to the public as possible."
"This affects more than just the purchase of books or magazines or DVDs," Rottmann said. "It also affects the staff and the reduction of hours to the public being able to come and use the library."
Rottmann said those who will be affected include persons using the library's Internet access.
"Maybe they're searching for employment. Maybe they are receiving a fax regarding a legal issue in their family. The reduced hours are making a big difference to them," Rottmann said. "Another concern is the use of the facility as a meeting place. These hours certainly do affect the amount of time that people can come and use the library, either the building, the materials, ask questions of the staff and so forth."
"I would urge all of our commissioners, and I'm talking about
"The library is a resource for young and old. Especially in the summer time, the library needs to be open more hours," said
"I would say that kids need to learn," Hurd said. "They need the knowledge for when they get older. If we can't get need books and stuff, then what are they using the money for?"
"If you don't send more money to the library, then they are going to shut down and I don't want them to shut down because there are important people that come here to get information," said
The new library hours are
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