Press Releases
June 2010
Bedford Public Library Plans New Hours
click here to see the new hours
Beginning July 6th, The Libraries in Bedford City and County will have new hours. Library Director, Peggy Bias indicated that overall the libraries will be open fewer hours due to budget cuts, but the new schedule promises to be easier to remember and convenient for library users. The new hours of operation will be posted in mid-June.
“Whenever cuts are necessary, it is important to use that opportunity to look at what we have been doing in an effort to minimize the negatives and, if possible, add benefit,” Bias said. The negatives are that the library is losing a full-time and a half-time position as well as reducing work hours for eleven employees. “It’s very difficult to turn that into a positive, but since we have to reduce hours in order to control expenses, we will make every effort to make those hours work for the public.”
Budget cuts from state and local governments are affecting most libraries in the Commonwealth. Bias stated that the Bedford Libraries have been fortunate in their stable, local support over the years, but besides the local and state cuts already received this fiscal year, additional state cuts are possible. At this point, funds normally used for books and materials have not been reduced.
Bias said that the Friends groups at each location have been very supportive of the library. The Bedford Public Library System Foundation, which was formed as a 501(c)(3) to provide financial support for the libraries, is currently accepting donations to fund the Summer Reading Program. The Library’s reading program for children is growing each year and the summer reading program for adults has remarkable participation.
BPLS
