4 library branches may close
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library officials say county budget cuts might force the system to close at least four branches in the coming months, while reducing hours at others.
Library officials haven’t determined which branches could close, but said any affected branch likely would remain shut down into the next budget year as well. Branches could close on Sundays and be open for fewer hours the rest of the week.
The library system has 24 branches, and officials said any locations that closed would be a community or neighborhood branch. Larger, regional branches wouldn’t be considered.
Cabarrus County officials recently announced a reduction in hours at their library branches.
Mecklenburg director Charles Brown said the branch changes would be a worst-case scenario, and assumes the county requires the system to cut 5 percent, or $1.56 million, from its budget for the year ending in June. He said officials have frozen some vacant positions, and would cut its materials, information technology and maintenance budgets first. Still, he said any cuts above $300,000 would require staff layoffs.
It isn’t yet known how deep the library cuts will need to be.
County departments and agencies recently submitted ideas for how to cut up to five percent from their budget, and county administrators are weighing which ones to enact. The cuts are one way to close what has grown into a $34 million shortfall in the current budget. They’re bracing for an even bigger gap for 2010-11.
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