BELL : Library Open Again on Tuesdays
The Bell Community Library will now be open Tuesdays, thanks to a deal the city has negotiated with the county.
The library has been open just two days a week since state budget cuts forced the county government to cut library and other services last year.
The library is owned by the city but staffed by county personnel. Under the new agreement, the city will accept an extra day of county library services each week in exchange for rent, said Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo.
The county was paying $2,046 a month in rent and recently calculated the cost of operations at $700 a day, Rizzo said. Keeping the library open through the fiscal year will cost the city $11,200.
City Clerk Trish Casjens, who is also president of the Friends of the Library, said the few additional hours will make a big difference for patrons. “It’s our place of culture in town and it’s important to keep it open,” Casjens said.
Through June 21, the library hours are 1 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.
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