Library system lays off 8 employees

WARREN — The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library system has laid off eight employees, reduced hours for 18 others and accepted the early retirement of five more to cut $560,000 in personnel expenses for 2010.

The six-library system and its board of directors approved the reductions last Thursday to align staffing with the reduction in library hours, which began Monday.

Cost-cutting measures were necessary after the library system’s revenue was cut in the state budget by $1.2 million for 2010, said James Wilkins, library director. That represents about one third of total revenue.

The library system is also cutting the wages of remaining employees 3 percent and reducing its materials budget by 20 percent.

The system includes libraries in Warren, Brookfield, Cortland, Howland, Liberty, and Lordstown and a Bookmobile and homebound service.