In Close Vote, Indianapolis-Marion County Library Board Cuts Hours, Staff

LINK

Link to August 20 Indianapolis Star article, "Library board backs cuts to hours, staff".

Excerpt: The city's libraries will reduce hours across branches and cut staff next year, but leaders warned of more drastic measures to come if the system can't boost its revenue.

The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Board voted 4-3 Thursday to cut the system's weekly hours from 1,324 to 980 at Central Library and the 22 branches, a drop of 26 percent. Staff will be trimmed to match the reductions, but library officials have not yet said how many will lose their jobs.

Library officials are still figuring out new hours for the branches, but most would trim 15 to 19 hours per week by opening a couple hours later, closing a couple hours earlier and closing an additional day during the week.

The cuts were passed as a precursor to the library's $37.9 million 2011 budget, which is about 5 percent less than year's $40 million budget and was presented for the first time Thursday.

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