Library forced to cut hours

Due to reduced local government funding and planned staff furlough days, Roddenbery Memorial Library will adjust its hours of operation, starting in July.
A two-step reduction in the schedule will take place, and by the end of July the library will have fully implemented its new schedule.
On Thursday, July 1, 2010, the library will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., as usual, however, the library will be closed Friday, July 2, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
The library will also be closed on Saturday, July 3, and all future Saturdays until further notice.
Library staffers will take a furlough day on Monday, July 5, so the library will be closed that day as well.
On Tuesday, July 6, the library will reopen at 9 a.m.
The schedule for the next few weeks of July during the Vacation Reading Program will be Monday from 9 to 7, Tuesday from 9 to 7, Wednesday from 9 to 6, Thursday from 9 to 7, and Friday from 9 to 4.
Starting Monday, July 26, the library will open Monday 10 to 7, Tuesday 10 to 7, Wednesday 10 to 6, Thursday 10 to 7, and Friday 10 to 4.  This schedule will remain in effect indefinitely, with more planned closings for furloughs to be announced.
Library Director Alan Kaye said, “Our community appears to be in dire straits. We are trimming our hours of operation due to local government budget cuts and calls by elected officials in the newspaper for us to close the library. We have roughly 64% of the funding we had two years ago from local sources, so we must now save on personnel and utilities. Relative to the cost of living, this is the worst financial situation the library has ever faced. I want to see the library fully funded and fully available to the public, but we are not anywhere even remotely close to that right now.”
For details and an up-to-date schedule of operation for the library, come for a visit and pick up a copy of the schedule, or call the library at 377-3632.