“I don’t think anybody wanted to cut library service,” said Council Chairwoman Joy Greco. “This is a better option and still provides some service, although more limited.” The branches, which already had hours cut by one-third this year, will be closed an additional day each week, the Erie Times-News reported November 18.
The alternative would have been to close five branches and eliminate 32 jobs. However, even with $800,000 from the county, the library will still need to cut about 14 jobs. In addition, Director Margaret Stewart pointed out that to keep all the branches open on Saturdays—a key factor in the council’s decision to approve funding—staff would have to work every Saturday, a condition that would violate the library employees’ union agreement, according to the November 21 Times-News.
“Our agreement to keep branches open was predicated on Saturday hours in order to bring optimum availability to students in the area,” Greco and another council member wrote in a November 20 letter to Stewart. They also expressed concerns about a rumor that public Internet service at the branches would be eliminated.
Combined with other budgetary issues, providing the additional library funding will leave the council facing an estimated $1.5-million deficit in 2004. Greco said the council could make up the deficit by raising taxes, taking money from the county’s fund balance, or both.
Posted November 24, 2003.