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Community Library Cutting Hours

Community Library Cutting Hours - Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 04:06AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel Wednesday March 24 2010
In Northumberland County, a community library is being used now more than ever. But library officials say they're being forced to cut hours and services. It's happening at the Degenstein Community Library in downtown Sunbury. Valerie Benner is studying to become a surgical technician. She uses the Degenstein Library nearly every week for research. Benner noted, "The school that I go to has a limited library resource. There's a lot more books here that we have to use." She's also working full-time while taking her classes. Benner explained, "Wednesdays I don't work, so this is one of my few whole days that I have, that I can work on school stuff." Benner may soon have to make new study plans. Degenstein Library officials say they'll be closing on Wednesdays to save money. The cut was brought on by a loss in both state funding and income from the library's endowment fund. Library Director Gail Broome said, "Although we have a wonderful community that supports us, some of our donation areas have been down too. So add it all together, we really had to find someplace where we could cut costs." The library lost more than $50,000 in funding over the past year. They're already operating with a minimal staff, and have cut costs in other ways as well. The elimination of Wednesday library hours is set to begin on April 21st. And while the library's director tells us she hopes the cuts are temporary, she adds that nothing is guaranteed. The bad news comes at a time when employees say more people are using the library than ever before- especially for things like resume writing and job searches. In fact, the library has received dozens of new membership applications in the past week alone. Broome added, "We just have so many different resources that a wide variety of people use." But come next month, they'll have a little less time to use them. With no state funding relief in sight, library officials say an upswing in both the economy and community support will be necessary to avoid any more cutbacks.
 


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