By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bolstered by a more solid financial footing, the Gwinnett library system is looking to expand its hours.

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Sarah Ianacone / Special, Special A controversial countywide tax increase in December has placed the library system back in the black.

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At its regular meeting Tuesday, the board of trustees directed library staff to prepare recommendations for expanded hours at the county's 14 neighborhood branches. Those proposals will be discussed at the board's next meeting on March 9.

Branches were forced to trim operations to 45 hours per week last summer after county officials announced a 10 percent budget cut for 2010. Complicating matters was staffing for the new Hamilton Mill Branch north of Dacula, which is now set to open in May. The anticipated funding shortfall had administrators poised to cut operations to 35 hours per week.

But a controversial countywide tax increase in December has placed the library system back in the black. County commissioners anticipate the added revenue will provide enough funding to increase branch hours to about 50 per week. It also means the system can lift a year-long hiring freeze, which has resulted in about 42 vacant positions, said Kim Rodriguez, Human Resources Division director.

Board Chairwoman Phyllis Oxendine said library staff are in the midst of conducting an online survey to determine which days and hours patrons prefer neighborhood branches to be open.

"It's just asking the public who patronize our libraries which hours are most compatible to their lifestyle," Oxendine said. "We'll collate that and decide on the hours based on that."

The library system logged 3,400 respondents to its "‘Hours of Operation" survey from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1, said Executive Director Nancy Stanbery-Kellam.

"While there was an adequate number of responses, the completion deadline was extended to catch those who were busy over the holidays and those retuning to the library after the holidays for pre-school programs," she said. "We would expect to implement schedule changes to coincide with the opening of the Hamilton Mill Branch in early May."

The Gwinnett library system circulates more books than any of the other 60 public library systems in the state.