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By Richard Kerns
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – Libraries in Keyser and Fort Ashby will close earlier on Fridays, while the Burlington Library will open later on Wednesdays, after the Mineral County Library Board this week approved a reduction in operating hours to offset state funding cuts.
For the first time in 10 years, the library will also assess fines for overdue books and DVDs as a way to generate revenue. Inter-library loans that had been free will also incur a modest charge.
Libraries Director Connie Sutton said that effective July 1, the Keyser and Fort Ashby libraries will close at 3 p.m. on Fridays. The Keyser branch currently stays open until 6 p.m. Fridays, and the Fort Ashby branch until 5 p.m.
In Burlington, the library will open at noon on Wednesdays beginning July 1, rather than the current 10 a.m. starting time.
The reduced operating hours equate to two hours per week for both Fort Ashby and Burlington, and three hours for Keyser.
Approved by the library board Monday night, the reduced schedule was adopted to offset the loss of just over $6,000 in state funding, which was cut as the result of a veto by Gov. Joe Manchin.
With Mineral County's library budget already pared to the bone through previous lean years, Sutton had reported in the wake of the veto that the only way to make up for the cut was through reduced hours, which will translate into a 5 percent salary reduction for all library employees.
The plan was developed in consultation with the library directors in Burlington and Fort Ashby.
“We all get to work a little less,” Sutton said dryly.
The goal in reducing hours was to make the reduction in one block so that patrons could more readily remember the new schedule, rather than trying to spread the hours out with “a little bit here and there,” Sutton said.
While Burlington will be reverting to its former Wednesday schedule with the late opening, Keyser and Fort Ashby opted for Friday afternoon, when the libraries typically don't see as many school children. It was also an effort to provide a silver lining to library employees who are already among the lowest paid of public-sector workers, and will see their earnings decline further with the reduced hours.
“The least we can do is sweeten the deal and let them leave early on Fridays,” Sutton said.
As for the fines, overdue books will now be assessed at a rate of 10 cents per day, and DVDs at 25 cents. Sutton said the fines are not meant to be “punitive” but rather to help generate income for the library, and encourage patrons to return those overdue items, especially the DVDs.
“We're hoping those will come back in a more timely fashion,” Sutton said.
Finally, the library board agreed to charge 50 cents for inter-library loans, where books and other items that are not available in-house are delivered from outside the county system. The new fee will only cover part of the postage expense, but will nevertheless help the library system's strained bottom line.
“We're just trying to stay afloat,” Sutton said.
By Richard Kerns
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – Libraries in Keyser and Fort Ashby will close earlier on Fridays, while the Burlington Library will open later on Wednesdays, after the Mineral County Library Board this week approved a reduction in operating hours to offset state funding cuts.
For the first time in 10 years, the library will also assess fines for overdue books and DVDs as a way to generate revenue. Inter-library loans that had been free will also incur a modest charge.
Libraries Director Connie Sutton said that effective July 1, the Keyser and Fort Ashby libraries will close at 3 p.m. on Fridays. The Keyser branch currently stays open until 6 p.m. Fridays, and the Fort Ashby branch until 5 p.m.
In Burlington, the library will open at noon on Wednesdays beginning July 1, rather than the current 10 a.m. starting time.
The reduced operating hours equate to two hours per week for both Fort Ashby and Burlington, and three hours for Keyser.
Approved by the library board Monday night, the reduced schedule was adopted to offset the loss of just over $6,000 in state funding, which was cut as the result of a veto by Gov. Joe Manchin.
With Mineral County's library budget already pared to the bone through previous lean years, Sutton had reported in the wake of the veto that the only way to make up for the cut was through reduced hours, which will translate into a 5 percent salary reduction for all library employees.
The plan was developed in consultation with the library directors in Burlington and Fort Ashby.
“We all get to work a little less,” Sutton said dryly.
The goal in reducing hours was to make the reduction in one block so that patrons could more readily remember the new schedule, rather than trying to spread the hours out with “a little bit here and there,” Sutton said.
While Burlington will be reverting to its former Wednesday schedule with the late opening, Keyser and Fort Ashby opted for Friday afternoon, when the libraries typically don't see as many school children. It was also an effort to provide a silver lining to library employees who are already among the lowest paid of public-sector workers, and will see their earnings decline further with the reduced hours.
“The least we can do is sweeten the deal and let them leave early on Fridays,” Sutton said.
As for the fines, overdue books will now be assessed at a rate of 10 cents per day, and DVDs at 25 cents. Sutton said the fines are not meant to be “punitive” but rather to help generate income for the library, and encourage patrons to return those overdue items, especially the DVDs.
“We're hoping those will come back in a more timely fashion,” Sutton said.
Finally, the library board agreed to charge 50 cents for inter-library loans, where books and other items that are not available in-house are delivered from outside the county system. The new fee will only cover part of the postage expense, but will nevertheless help the library system's strained bottom line.
“We're just trying to stay afloat,” Sutton said.
