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Library operating hours cut back _ despite increased demand for services By DIANNE HART Special to the Beaver The town‘s budget committee approved cutting library hours in all locations despite the fact library use is increasing every year. Pointing to figures showing more people than ever walking through the doors of the library â€" 77,000 people are registered as current users of the library,an increase of 13.2% over last year â€" chairman of the library board Paul Cormier told committee members the reductions will affect service levels. "It is ironic that we could be forced to reduce hours for partâ€"time staff at a time when based on service demands we need their help the most," said Cormier. As a result of the cuts the library will move to summer hours, reducing hours of operation by two hours a day. Cormier told the committee that the reductions in the summer would have less impact on people because there are fewer children‘s programs in the sumâ€" mer; student information needs are minimal; and meeting room requests are lower. "It is not unusual for a library to have a summer schedule," said â€"FOR fl "HADDOCK ONLY" DAYS We have been "Frying" since 1967! Longer than a 61 oth?r "Chip Shop" kville. At Art‘s Fish Chips 1500 Sixth Line, 844â€"9209 Tuesdays are Home Delivery Daily From 5:00 p.m. Cormier. Other cuts will occur throughout the year â€" closing Sundays on statutory holiday weekends and reducing daily hours by an average of oneâ€"half to one hour a day. "We are aware that these services may be available for fewer hours each day or fewer hours each week. At a time when demand for library services is so very high and shows little sign of slowing, we have tried to avoid reducâ€" ing any hours." he added. He noted that the library serves all parts of the community including peoâ€" ple learning to read, residents in retireâ€" ment homes who use library deposit collections, those who live in new parts of the town and depend on the Bookmobile, children‘s programs(more than 60,000 participated in 1992) as well as elderly people who need large As well as shaving $58,633 off the $4.5 million budget by reducing the hours of operation, the committee approved another $151,341 in reductions recommended by town staff. Cormier told committee members that in 1992 about 1.5 million items were borrowed, an increase of almost 10% over 1991. The annual per capita circulation is 13 items per person "well above" the provincial average of 8.5. Menuha Therapy Centre For Women Welcomes You Into The New Year For Appointment Call 845â€"3323 Monday to Friday 105 Thomas St., Suite 103, 3rd Floor EUTIC M/ "We want to put this on the front in a Aags A ol en e burner," said Cormier. Built in 1962, the branch remains inaccessible to the physically challenged in an area of art es (416) 639â€"6771 NH Kn Snd enc abent Sm onl Loud Loud Cl Youk Youd Ved Youh Youk Couk Loud Conk Coud print materials. More than one million visits were made the library last year. The budget committee chose not to further reduce the operating hours of the library which Cormier claimed would have had a "severe" impact on users. § However, the committee approved the $700,700 needed to renovate Woodside library on Rebecca Street. The library is currently undertaking a feasibility study on Woodside due in February. An allowance of $700,000 has been estimated. of which $373, 600 would be financed from development charges, $100,000 from grant funding and $227,100 from the tax levy. * Plus Freight, P.D.1., License and Taxes..O.A.C. Rebate‘assigned to dealer. * Lease based on 48 months, $2,000 down, security deposit and taxes, O.A.C V6, 130 H.P. of exhilarating performance, power windows and locks, cruise, 4â€"wheel disc brakes and more. V6, 165 H.P. of pure performance, air, power windows, doors and locks, alloy wheels and more. Your Personal Reminder Service Helping you remember those important dates Birthdays Anniversaries Special Days Any Day For More Information Phone or Fax us at Gentle Reminders WHERE GOOD SERVICE IS AFACT, NOT A PROMISE 255 H.P. of awesome performance and more.