Budget cuts force Lima library to close Wednesdays

LIMA — Patrons won’t be able to use the Lima Public Library on Wednesdays beginning next month, and seven library employees won’t be coming to work any longer.

State budget cuts forced library officials to announce a series of cost saving moves Friday, including reducing hours and staff.  The reductions at the main library will save $325,000 annually.

“These are becoming agonizing decisions for any administrator,” library Director Scott Shafer said.

Though eight positions are being eliminated, only seven employees will lose their jobs, since one employee volunteered to retire and save someone else's job, Shafer said. Hours will be reduced for seven more starting in September. Specifically, two library positions and an administrative department head position, three associates and two clerks are being eliminated. Another administrative department head position will be reduced to part-time. Currently, 55 people work at the library.

Of the layoffs, six are members of Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 776. President Kathy Stark described Friday as a “tough day.”

“Since we don’t have the funding, we just can’t keep all the personnel,” she said.

The union has said it made cost-savings suggestions to officials in the past, but they were not used. Employees with seniority could move to other jobs if theirs is eliminated, effectively bumping the job loss to those with less seniority. Some employees could retire, Stark said. The staff reductions will impact patrons too, Shafer said.

“Things will take longer here at the library, checking out, getting reference questions answered, and there will be fewer slots for programs,” he said.

The library is about $335,000 in the hole for 2009 and facing another deficit of more than $200,000 for 2010. The library continues to cut back on materials, Shafer said.

Hours at the library’s branches will be reduced by 20 percent, saving $65,000. Those new hours will be announced soon.

Decisions on hours were made based on tracking library use, Shafer said. Wednesdays and Thursdays are typically slower days. While Saturdays are also slow, the library will remain open to accommodate working people who can’t get to the library during the work week.

The library board is considering going to voters with a levy attempt, but a paperwork issue prevents it from being in November. Shafer said a levy attempt would be to bring back some of the things that have been cut.

“I really appreciate the public outpouring of support and if it will just bear with us, we will get through this rough time together,” he said.

New hours starting in September will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Branch hours will be announced soon.

New main library hours starting Sept. 1

Monday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday: noon to 8 p.m.

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: noon to 8 p.m.

Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Staff reductions

Eliminated: 2 library positions, one administrative department head position, 3 associates, 2 clerks

Hours cut to part-time: 1 administrative department head