Champaign Library Cuts Hours And Staff, Doesn’t Expect More Cuts In 2016

Patrons of the Champaign Public Library will soon have fewer hours to use their services, but library officials say they don’t expect further cuts next year.

The library board decided Thursday that as of July 1st, the main library will close at 6 p.m. instead of 9 on Thursday and Friday.  And it will open an hour later on Saturdays, at 10 am instead of 9. 

The Douglass Branch Library will also be affected, closing two hours earlier Wednesday and Thursday.

Library Director Marsha Grove also expects to eliminate the equivalent of 3 full-time positions, offering a voluntary buyout to staff.

Grove said property tax revenue for the library has either declined or remained flat the last few years, while library expenses have gone up.  But she believes there won’t be additional cuts next year, expecting that revenue will improve.

“I think from the forecast for property tax, what I foresee is – we’ve gotten to the worst point," she said.  "And I don’t anticipate have to cut more staff.  We won’t have to cut our materials budget more.  We may just be holding our own, not making any increases, but at least we don’t anticipate to be cutting.”

Grove calls the hours that were cut the ‘least disruptive’ for groups that use the main library. 

She said the library board has also dropped the option of charging visitors to park, saying that could turn too many away.