Wood County libraries cut $100,000 in 2nd round

5/14/2009

BOWLING GREEN After reducing hours and increasing fines beginning Feb. 1, trustees for the Wood County District Library yesterday made a second round of budget cuts aimed at saving $100,000 this year.

The main library on North Main Street in Bowling Green will be closed Sundays from June 1 through Sept. 7. It will not buy $50,000 in new books and other materials that had been budgeted for the year and will reduce technology spending by $12,000.

Library Director Elaine Paulette said though no employees will be laid off, beginning June 1, workers will have to pay $10 more per week $35 instead of $25 toward their health care and pay the 4.5 percent share of their Ohio Public Employees Retirement System payment now picked up by the library.

Ms. Paulette said the library expects to receive up to 20 percent less from the state, its primary source of revenue, than it received last year.

Because the library will not be buying materials, trustees are trying to promote a buy a book campaign, asking residents to donate money.