The Jackson Hinds Library System announced Sunday, Oct. 1, that it would reduce hours because of a recent budget cut. Here is a press release verbatim:
The Jackson Hinds Library System will reduce hours effective today, October 1, 2017, at 5 of the 15 library branches due to a recent $100,000 cut to the library system’s state-based Personnel Incentive Grant program, which is administered by the Mississippi Library Commission.
Mississippi Library Commission took a $1.1 million dollar cut in state funding earlier this year and was forced to pass along a share of the cut to each of the Mississippi library systems which they directly support. Consequently, the Jackson Hinds Library System’s funding was cut $100,000.
The City of Jackson increased the Library System’s budget by $50,000 to make up for the shortage, and the Hinds County Board of Supervisors provided $10,000 to reduce the impact of the shortfall as well. This still left $40,000 as a budget shortfall, and the library system was forced to reduce hours at some branches.
Library Executive Director Patty Furr comments: “We are never happy to cut library hours, particularly since the public depends so heavily on us for help with applying for jobs, homework assistance and free access to our public access computers. We just don’t have much of a choice in the situation this year given the amount of the state budget cuts and the high percentage of our budget that goes into staffing.”
Furr continues: “To make sure the hours we cut were fair and equitable, we analyzed usage statistics hour by hour at each branch looking at the number of books checked out, the number of persons coming into the library and the number of persons using the computers. The branches that had the least use per capita, which included the libraries at Bolton, Edwards, Raymond, Terry and Utica, will be closing on Wednesday afternoon only. Other branch hours will not be changing at this time.
“We apologize to our library users that we have to reduce hours at these locations, but we must stay within the budget that was passed by our Board of Trustees on September 27, 2017. We cannot keep the libraries open if we don’t have the money to pay our staff.” Furr stated.
Effective October 1, 2017, these libraries will now close at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The library hours are:
Evelyn T. Majure Library, Utica, MS
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 – 2:00 pm
Lois A. Flagg Library, Edwards, MS
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 – 2:00 pm
Annie T. Jeffers Library, Bolton, MS
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 – 2:00 pm
Ella Bess Austin Library, Terry, MS
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 – 2:00 pm
Raymond Public Library, Raymond, MS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, closed for lunch 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
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For further information please contact Patty Furr, who is the executive director of the Jackson Hinds Library System.
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