Library Hours to be Cut in 2008/09By Carl Wagenfohr CLEARWATER – Faced with a City Council-mandated $400-thousand cut in the 2008/09 library budget and a requirement that no branches be closed, Clearwater Library Director Barbara Pickell had little choice but to reduce library operating hours. While the Main Library will be unaffected under the preliminary 2008/09 plan, users of the other four branches would suffer cuts starting on September 29th. The staffs of the Beach and North Greenwood Branches would be consolidated and operate as one unit. The Beach Branch would operate from 9 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday, while North Greenwood would be open from 2 pm to 6 pm Tuesday through Friday, and 1 pm to 5 pm on Saturday. East Branch hours would be reduced from 45 to 40 hours per week. The library would be open on Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 pm, and on Thursday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. The facility would be closed on Sunday and Monday. The heavily-used Countryside Branch would also be pared to 40 from 45 hours per week, opening on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm, Monday from 11 am to 8 pm and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm. Friday and Saturday hours would be eliminated. The planned reduction in library service will be discussed at the first of two 2009 Budget Hearings tonight during the Clearwater City Council meeting; public comment will be solicited. |