Libraries extend hours

During the November levy campaign, the one question the librar staff heard most often was, “If the levy passes, will libraries be open more hours?”

The library’s answer was, “Yes.”

In keeping with that promise, the library has a new schedule which increases hours of service by 17.5 percent. The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County will begin a schedule of expanded library hours April 25.

“We are pleased to be able to expand hours of service. We know that having our libraries open and accessible is so important to our patrons and our community,” said Library Director Carlton Sears. “As part of preparing for this expansion of hours, we began adding and training staff and this is still in progress.”

During the months when the library was losing state funds at an alarming rate, hours were cut on two occasions — May 2009 and September 2009. Additionally, 30 staff members were lost due to budget cuts. This left the library system short-staffed for an expansion of hours.

When hours were cut, the main library lost two nights per week and many branches lost a full day of service.