Although a reduction in operating hours earlier this summer did not adversely impact the overall usage of the Mooresville Public Library, a cutback in personnel and services in the children’s department certainly did.
Library Director John Pritchard says the library overall was busier this summer than in years past, following a trend of increasing annual attendance.
“There was no question we were busier in terms of adult circulation and patron visits,” Pritchard said, noting that early August even saw the library’s busiest single-day ever with more than 2,700 visitors.
The children’s department, however, did not experience the same growth.
“Where we lost a bit was in the children’s attendance and children’s circulation,” noted Pritchard. “Right now we’re down two full positions in the children’s services division and one part-time. Because of that lack of personnel, we’ve had to cut back on programming.”
Although one of those full-time positions will soon be filled, Pritchard said children’s outreach programs, such as those to local daycares and preschools, will be slashed approximately 50 percent as a result of those personnel cutbacks.
“Right now everything else is on hold. It’s just necessitated.”
Though fewer kids visited the library this summer due, at least in part, to decreased programming, Pritchard said the truncated operating hours – the library shortened their Saturday schedule and shut the doors on Sundays in response to budget cuts – had little effect.
“The popularity of the library hasn’t seemed to diminish,” he said, noting that each year, including this one, there’s been an increase in attendance.
The shortened Saturday hours – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – “didn’t seem to have much net effect” as the library was typically quiet that day following a larger late-morning crowd.
Some regular Sunday users complained a bit about the lack of operating hours as the shift occurred in mid-June. However, Pritchard said MPL patrons – approximately 1,000 people step through the library doors each day – seem very understanding of the necessary cutbacks.
“I think people appreciated the Sunday hours, but they understood that if we had to cut something that was a likely cut,” he said, mentioning how vital it was to maintain hours Monday through Friday. “Evenings were important. I’m glad we kept those.”
The operating-hour reduction and personnel decrease resulted from budgetary cuts the MPL faced in the current fiscal year, which began July 1. After evaluating attendance numbers, circulation totals and program services, these cuts were deemed necessary for the MPL to serve the most people possible and continue its success.
“It’s important to note that in these economic times, the library becomes a very important center for a lot of activity from recreation to job seekers,” said Pritchard. “We need to stretch ourselves as much as possible to accommodate that.”
He added, “We realize there is still a huge demand for child services out there and that’s where we are short the greatest number of positions.”
As the library attempts to make up those deficits, staffers simply hope that the same level of funding will be maintained and additional cuts won’t be necessary next year.
“We’re hoping to maintain at least where we are,” Pritchard noted. “If we sustain any other cuts, other service reductions will follow. You can only stretch the rubber band or string so far before you just can’t anymore.”
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