Supervisors today agreed to close the San Benito County Free
Library on Saturdays to save money in the budget. The decision, as
recommended by the head librarian to meet the department budget,
comes on the heels of a range of increased fees at the library as
well to help offset the county’s revenue downturn.
HOLLISTER
Supervisors today agreed to close the San Benito County Free Library on Saturdays to save money in the budget.
The decision, as recommended by the head librarian to meet the department budget, comes on the heels of a range of increased fees at the library as well to help offset the county’s revenue downturn.
Supervisors voted unanimously to close the library for a second day each week. By law, the county board must set such office hours by resolution, according to a staff report on the matter.
With the closure on Saturdays, it will leave the local library open Mondays through Fridays – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Supervisors’ decision is applicable during the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the report.
Assistant County Administrative Officer Richard Inman explained that Librarian Nora Conte reduced her budget by a specific dollar amount – he didn’t have it readily available, and the staff report did not include a figure – and chose the closure as the option to cut costs.
Conte could not be reached immediately for comment before publication.
