MAHONING COUNTY Library trims budget to reflect state funds

The library director will get a $6,500 raise.
POLAND -- The board of trustees of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has approved a revised operating budget of $11,296,183 for calendar year 2002, compared with $12,450,368 for this year.
The new budget assumes a 10 percent cut in state income tax revenues -- the library system's main revenue source -- as proposed earlier this fall, although it now appears the actual reduction will be 1 percent, said Susan G. Merriman, clerk-treasurer.
The board is expected to consider in January another revision reflecting the lesser reduction in state funds, said Janet Loew, communications and public relations director.
Director Carleton Sears said a plan to further expand library hours has been shelved, resulting in a savings of about $300,000 in salaries and benefits.
Other business: The board, meeting Thursday in the new $6.8 million Poland library that opened Dec. 3, also raised Sears' annual salary from $83,000 to $89,500, effective Feb. 1. "He's worth it. He's doing a good job for us, and we wanted to keep him here," said Kathryn Bennett, chairwoman of the board's personnel committee.
The board also heard Dr. David Ritchie, chairman of the Austintown Library building committee, say that trusses have been erected; the roof is two-thirds complete, and some landscaping has been done at the $3.8 million Austintown library under construction at Raccoon Road and Falcon Drive.
If good weather prevails for eight to 10 more days, the building should be under its roof, he said.
The board also honored Anna Mamone of Boardman, its deputy clerk-treasurer and secretary since 1989, who will be retiring Dec. 31 after 30 years with the library system.
Sears reported that nearly 1,000 people attended a Nov. 25 open house at the new Poland library and more than 1,600 people visited Dec. 4.
Sears told the board the system plans a thorough review of many of its branches, especially those in Youngstown, and installation of a more user-friendly computerized circulation and catalog system next year.