'I Was Gonna Have to Cut Staff Members': State Funding Saves Library Jobs in Belvidere

'I was gonna have to cut staff members': State funding saves library jobs in Belvidere

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — Over 600 public libraries received part of $20 million in grants, including multiple libraries in Northern Illinois. The IDA Public Library Executive Director in Belvidere is elated to have a larger budget. "I'm absolutely thrilled," Mindy Long explained. "This is targeted for small and rural libraries that do not have a very large budget." Long would have been forced to make some tough decisions if it were not for the h…

Palm Coast Library Hours Will Be Cut 23% and Staff Reduced, Shifting Resources to New Nexus Center in Bunnell

The Flagler County Public Library in Palm Coast will see a sharp, 23 percent reduction in hours of operation--from 52 to 40 hours a week--and a significant reduction in staffing as the new south side library, known as the Nexus Center, opens later this year, itself with slightly fewer staff than originally planned. Each library will be closed two days a week. For the Palm Coast branch, that means no more Monday hours. It’s been closed on Sunday.…