Library’s Hours May Be Reduced

Library trustees are expected to decide tonight whether to reduce the hours during which the city library is open to the public from 66 to 54 a week.

The reduction is being considered as a cost-saving measure made necessary by cutbacks in state revenue.

Library Director Colleen McGregor said trustees will each propose their own recommendations for new hours at the 7:30 p.m. meeting. The meeting will be held in the upstairs board room at the library, 7150 La Palma Ave.

At last month’s meeting, library patrons criticized the proposed new hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Trustees at that meeting also encouraged patrons to submit their own suggestions for new library hours. However, McGregor said Tuesday that only one person had submitted a recommendation.

Reducing library hours is one way to cope with a projected $175,000 loss in property tax revenue this year, McGregor said.

The library is one of two independent library districts in Orange County--the other is Placentia Library--which receives 85% of its funding from property taxes.

By cutting back its hours, the library could save about $100,000 because it would not need to hire new employees to replace workers who have left, McGregor said. The reduction in library hours would also avoid the need to consider layoffs, McGregor said.