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Washington Evening Journal
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Mt. Pleasant Public Library to cut back hours
Henry County Supervisors reduce funding for public library
MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant Public Library Board announced its decision to shorten hours beginning July 1 after a loss of support from Henry County Board of Supervisors.
“The bad news update is that the county supervisors let us know that they are cutting their contribution to our budget by about half,” Library Board President Theresa Rose shared with the Mt. Pleasant City Council last Wednesday, June 12.
While Rose reported that the board felt they had a handle on the reduced contribution, Library Director Kayleigh Septer shared just how they plan to make things work. According to Septer, the library will reduce their operating hours and not fill a current open position to “mitigate” the loss.
Septer stated that she will shift her own hours to cover evening and Saturday hours normally covered by the position they will not fill. Although this position will not be filled, Rose informed the council that a new night clerk will begin in the children’s area of the library to replace retiring youth librarian.
Beginning July 1, the library will close and hour earlier at 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday instead of 8 p.m. The library also will close half an hour early on Fridays at 5 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. Saturday hours, however, will remain the same.
Despite the “bad news update” resulting in fewer hours, the Mt. Pleasant Public Library Board did share positive updates with the city council, as well.
Rose informed the board of the library’s participation in Healthy Henry County Communities Stride into Summer event calling it a “success” as the library kicked off their summer reading program.
Approximately 200 children signed up for this year’s summer reading program and Rose thanked local businesses and the library foundation for their donations to make that program possible again this summer.
“The Discovery Center has been extremely popular,” Rose shared another bit of good news with the city council. “There have been field trips and we’re adding hours to the schedule down there!”
According to Rose, the Discovery Center, located in the basement of the library with its own entrance on the other side of the building, hosts special guests on Mondays in the summer.
Looking to the fall, Septer shared that the Mt. Pleasant Public Library will participate in an educational training in Morning Sun with the Tri-County Library Association which will focus on the topic of book banning and she hopes city officials will attend alongside library personnel.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
