The Union County Public Library System Board voted in February to cut the operating hours at most of the system's five branches.
The Barton Library's hours were not cut.
The move is aimed at cutting costs following dire warnings from UCPLS Executive Director Michael O'Connell, who said in February the library only had two months' worth of cash-on-hand.
The UCPLS's 2023 budget calls for $624,405 in spending, with 62% going toward payroll. It is by far the highest expenditure, followed by professional fees and unrestricted expenses at 8% of the budget, utilities at 5% and updates to the library collections at 4%.
Funding for the UCPLS has been an issue for several years, and last year, a ballot measure that would have increased the library millage rate for county residents living outside the City of El Dorado by .4 mills failed.
The Library Board, during their regular meeting in February, voted unanimously to reduce hours by 25% at each of the UCPLS branches, O'Connell said.
"Most branches' hours are being reduced from 20 hours to 15 (per week)," he said in an email.
The move will save about $40,000, O'Connell said, and is expected to cover any budget shortfalls that may arise this year, he said.
"Provided our funding remains the same, we will be fine," he said.
The hours for each of the UCPLS branches are as follows:
- Barton Library, 200 E. 5th St., El Dorado: 10 a.m. – 6p.m. Monday - Friday; 1 - 5 p.m. Saturday
- Huttig Public Library, 204 Frost St., Huttig: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday
- Junction City Public Library, 300 N. Myrtle St., Junction City: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday
- Norphlet Public Library, 101 W. Padgett St., Norphlet: noon – 5 p.m. Monday – Wednesday and Fridays; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. first and third Saturday (Library is closed on Wednesday the weeks it is open on Saturday)
- Smackover Public Library, 700 S. Broadway St., Smackover: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays
- Strong Public Library, 299 W. 2nd Ave., Strong: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Tuesday and Thursdays
O'Connell said the UCPLS staff and board are also working to think of other ways to generate revenue or obtain additional funding in the future.
One way to get involved is through a sponsorship for the UCPLS's upcoming Summer Reading Program. Sponsorship opportunities are available now at levels from $100 - $5,000 or through in-kind gifts.
The Barton Library also recently partnered with the Union County Historical Preservation Society to present a monthly "Wednesday of Wonder," a crafting and educational program held on the last Wednesday each month. This month's Wednesday of Wonder is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 26.
For more information about the UCPLS, visit ucpls.org or the Barton Library Facebook page.
This story has been updated to correct an error; the story previously stated that the UCPLS Board voted in March to cut hours, when they actually voted in February. Also, the hours for the Smackover Public Library have been corrected to reflect that it is open Wednesday-Friday, not just on Wednesdays.