As a result of a funding squeeze, Quarryville Library will close early on Saturdays and remain locked each Monday in 2010.
The library's director and board members recently visited the municipalities that contribute to the library to plead for more money. The result was neutral, according to library director Frances Vita.
And, in a down economy, Vita said it's understandable they weren't able to commit up front.
In Martic Township, for example, supervisor Chairwoman Barbara Stokes expressed sympathy, but the board still reduced the line-item for the library by $1,000. However, Stokes told Vita the supervisors will see what they can do when it comes time to write the check.
The library expects funding to fall by $83,085, from $277,511 in 2009 to $194,426 in 2010. One-time grants in 2009 explain part of the difference. The remainder stems from municipal, county and state funding cuts, according to Susan L. Hauer, president of the Library System of Lancaster County.
Municipal financial appropriations amounted to about 14 percent of the LSLC budget in 2008, according to the annual report that year, with the county contributing 25 percent and the state 31 percent. Another 28 percent comes from other fundraising, donations and grants (figures are rounded).
The library system, which includes 14 libraries, is looking at a $700,000 drop in state funding for 2009 and 2010 combined. Lancaster County cut $75,000 out of a $2 million contribution in its 2010 budget.
Quarryville Library has $44,965 in municipal appropriations in its 2010 budget, down $2,000.
To cope, the library is closing Mondays, closing at 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and is switching its electricity provider, according to Vita.
Light bulbs are being removed, fees will change and the library wants to renegotiate maintenance and landscaping agreements.
Vita said the library hasn't had to let any employees go, but they have cut work hours.
"We don't want to lose anyone we have, so at least when things bounce back, we'll still have our people," Vita said.
The Library System of Lancaster County reports that Quarryville's shrinking budget isn't unique.
The Ephrata Library will close Fridays and Sundays. Elizabethtown will close Fridays. Lancaster is dealing with layoffs as well as anticipating it will not meet standards for state funding.
In order to retain state funding, Lancaster and Quarryville will have to complete waivers. A waiver explains that the reason the Quarryville Library will not meet standards for buying new books is its tight budget, instead of allowing the state to assume other reasons.
In the meantime, to pick up the slack from shrinking government contributions, Vita is researching grants for which the library would be eligible. The library also is anticipating a mini-golf fundraiser in February.