SHARON Libraries change their services to adjust to dwindling aid

One librarian has offered to work some hours for free to maintain services.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Public libraries in Mercer and Lawrence counties are facing reduced hours, fewer book purchases and even staff layoffs in light of impending state cuts in funding Jan. 1.
None has said it will have to close its doors, but all said there will be some loss of service to library patrons.
The problem is a 50 percent state cutback in grants to local pubic libraries effective with the new year.
Efforts to persuade the governor and Legislature to restore the $37 million needed to cover the reduction have been unsuccessful, but a budget compromise surfacing in Harrisburg this week includes a provision that could restore as much as $10 million of those cuts.
Libraries are preparing for the worst in the event the budget compromise fails or isn't enacted soon.
Funding for libraries comes from the Department of Education budget, and funding for education has been a major sticking point in negotiations between the governor and the Legislature in trying to finalize a state budget that was supposed to be in place by June 30.
Accordingly, the local libraries have drafted plans to offset the loss of revenue.
Additional cuts
Some librarians are still hopeful that the state won't impose the cuts, but Susan Walls, director of the New Castle Public Library, isn't optimistic.
Her library has already experienced some state cuts.
In addition to being a local library, New Castle is also a district library, which means it is designated by the state to provide various services to other, smaller libraries in Lawrence, Mercer, Butler and Armstrong counties.
New Castle got $480,000 for that task last year, but the state cut that funding by 50 percent effective July 1 of this year, Walls said.
The result was a reduction in services to other libraries, she said. For example, New Castle had made two weekly deliveries of requested books and other materials to libraries in the four counties but had to cut that to one delivery per week, she said.
Compensating for loss
Here's what local libraries may lose and how they will compensate:
UNew Castle Public Library: Loss of $103,000 in state local library funds. Director Susan Walls said service reductions won't come in January but could occur in February or March. They include furloughing two or three full-time staff members, as well as two or three part-time staffers. Several full-time workers will be reduced to part-time status. Operations will be cut back from six to five days a week, although Saturday will remain a day of operation. There will also be fewer new book purchases, she said.
UShenango Valley Community Library, Sharon: Loss of $68,000. Director Karen Spak said the book budget will be slashed, some maintenance will be deferred and computers won't be replaced. There may be staff cuts but only through attrition. The library is now open 56 hours a week over seven days but would have to cut back to 50 hours, although how the schedule will be altered hasn't been determined.
UGreenville Area Public Library: Loss of $23,450. Director Sheila Kretser said the jobs of two part-time staffers will be eliminated and the library will no longer be open on Tuesdays. The nonresidence fee for people outside Greenville and Hempfield and Sugar Grove townships will be raised from $25 to $35 a year, and late book fines will increase from 10 to 20 cents per day. New book purchases have already been cut.
UGrove City Community Library: Loss of $20,000. Saturday hours will be cut from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a book rental fee for bestsellers will be raised from 50 to 75 cents each, said Director Linda Bennett. The library's two part-time staffers will see their hours cut, and purchases of new books and other materials will be cut as well.
UMercer Area Library: Loss of $22,000. Director Connie Jewell said weekly operations will be cut the equivalent of one day, although a decision hasn't been made as to whether daily hours will be reduced or whether the library will close completely on one day. However, Saturday is a likely target. Staff hours will be reduced accordingly, and new material purchases will definitely be cut, she said.
UStey-Nevant Community Library, Farrell: Loss of $14,000. Director Margaret Orchard said Saturday hours will be cut from the current 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. to 8 a.m. to noon. There will be cuts in new book purchases and some programming such as the Summer Reading Program, and extended summer hours will also be reduced.
UF.D. Campbell Memorial Library, Bessemer: Loss of $10,860. Director Jean Workman, the sole paid employee, has offered to volunteer some of her work hours so the library won't have to reduce any hours of operation. The new books and materials budget would be reduced.
UEllwood City Area Public Library: The director was unavailable for comment on amount of loss.