Muncie, Indiana: Carnegie Library Remains Open Despite Budget Cuts

Link to the January 26 StarPress report, "Carnegie Library alive and well - for now".

Excerpt: Muncie Public Library officials aren't ready to close the book on Carnegie Library just yet.

A year ago, it seemed the oldest remaining library would join other shuttered branches -- Webb-Hunt, Maring and most recently Conley and Local History and Genealogy -- but attrition, service cuts and a location in a growing area have saved Carnegie. For now.

To combat the projected loss of more than $1 million this year, after losing $600,000 in 2009 due to property tax caps, MPL axed services such as homebound delivery and eliminated about 16 full-time positions including a business manager, custodians and circulation jobs.

Muncie's Carnegie Library provide no materials to circulate, but it does house the local history and genealogy collection, as well as a 12-station computer lab.