Carson City Library to cut operating hours

Staff report

The Carson City Library will close early several days a week and open later on Friday to deal with a reduced budget and staff.

The library will close an hour early Tuesday through Thursday starting June 9 and open two hours later on Friday and close two hours early Saturday.

Three positions have been kept open and the library's budget has been reduced to help balance the city budget.

"We're doing the best we can with what we can," said Phyllis Patton, chairwoman of the Carson City Library Board of Trustees.

The library has about $200,000 less in its budget than it had a year ago.

"We just can't pretend its the same," Patton said.

The time changes will not go into effect until June so it won't hurt students, she said.

More cuts probably won't be necessary, according to Patton, unless another of the library's 16 current employees leaves.

Some city supervisors have said it's better to keep vacant positions open now, rather than being forced to fire new employees later.

The library will close at 8 p.m. rather than 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; open at noon rather than 10 a.m. Friday; and close at 4 p.m. rather than 6 p.m. on Saturday.