Gwinnett to reduce library hours to curb spending

Gwinnett is the latest county to curtail library services to help balance its budget.

Last fall Cobb County reduced weekday hours, closed all but one branch on Sundays and closed some branches on Saturdays in response to a 5 percent budget cut. DeKalb County closed its Briarcliff branch in October and delayed opening of its Stonecrest Library.

Gwinnett shuttered its libraries on Sundays and Mondays for a time in 2009. The library board ultimately restored seven-day service, but reduced weekly operating hours from 71 to 53.

Library officials say they’ve reduced expenses even as they opened the new Hamilton Mill branch last year. But as Gwinnett wrestles with declining property tax and other revenue, pressure to cut the library budget has continued.

Last year Engage Gwinnett, a citizen panel charged with examining the county budget, suggested a more flexible library system could save $1.8 million in county library spending. The panel recommended the library avoid building new facilities and tap new technologies to deliver services.

Library officials say they’ve embraced e-books and other technologies. But they say technology can’t replace librarians who provide hands-on assistance to school children, small business owners and others.

“You cannot replace these people with an iPad,” library board member Phillip Saxton told county commissioners at a recent budget hearing.

At a Tuesday night library board meeting, board members said they would not close branches or lay off employees to balance the budget, though they did not rule out furloughs. They said any service reduction will be shared equally among library branches.

“If you cut it to the bone, you cut it straight across,” said Chairwoman Phyllis Oxendine.

Stanbery-Kellam expects to have more details about service reductions at the library board’s March meeting.