Leetonia library cuts hours, staff and paychecks

LEETONIA — Budgetary problems have prompted the library here to cut hours, staff and pay.

Citing recent reductions in state funding, the board of trustees of the Leetonia Community Public Library has reduced the operating hours of the local library and eliminated two part-time positions.

The board made the adjustments, which go into effect next Thursday, earlier this month.

Additionally, salaried and administrative employees will see a 20 percent reduction in pay along with adjustments to health insurance with the library covering 80 percent of the premium.

The library’s new hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The facility will be closed Fridays and Sundays.

Board members explained that funding for the library has been reduced by close to 17 percent — from $324,000 to an estimated $272,000 — since 2008 and that the library must budget for an additional 12 percent reduction in funding in 2010.