Valley libraries look at layoffs, reduced operating hours

Mandee Leonhardt, Herald Reporter
Posted 6/28/17

Library struggles continue

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Valley libraries look at layoffs, reduced operating hours

Posted

EVANSTON — Budget concerns have recently led to the idea that the Mountain View library branch could be shut down, but after an optimistic meeting with the Uinta County commissioners on Tuesday, June 20, the Uinta County Library Board met immediately after to discuss options that would best fit the libraries in the Bridger Valley so that they can stay open.

In essence, what will keep the libraries open is having enough dedicated volunteers and people who have a drive to help out at the library. 

The board discussed how citizens from Mountain View came forward in the commission meeting, saying they would like to volunteer to help out with things such as covering books and working to help the library stay open. There was a handful of people willing to help out fiscally and with hours.  

Another thing the board discussed was how to give the volunteers actual tasks that they have the ability to do so that librarians don’t have to spend too much time teaching volunteers how to perform tasks. 

The board agreed that the volunteers should be doing tasks that library aides also know how to do. 

“Our volunteers usually come regularly,” library director Claire Francis said. “They are trained to do things and have a variety of things they can do so it doesn’t get too boring. We try to fit our volunteers to a position.” 

One attendee said it is hard to get the librarians in the Valley to give up their tasks to the volunteers, and that’s where their trouble is. 

The budget has been submitted to the county commissioners with provisional approval by the board. The proposed scenario is to lay off Lyman Library manager Susan Worthen and reduce the remaining manager, Nita Duncan, to 32 hours. She would then be the manager for both the Bridger Valley branches instead of just Mountain View. 

She may obtain an aide at each location for 20 hours each, and she would split her time between the two locations. 

The budget also proposes that the Valley branches will be reduced to seven hours a day for four days a week. The discussion of scheduling when the branches are open won’t affect the hours. 

This year, Uinta County Library director George Strawley and three employees were laid off, and one position was cut through attrition. Insurances such as vision, dental and FSA cut offs will also take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on Monday, July 3. 

A press release issued Friday by the Uinta County Library confirmed that the Lyman and Mountain View libraries will reduce hours of operation. According to the release, the reduced hours is due to lack of funding. Both branches are scheduled to be open for 28 hours per week beginning June 1.

The future schedule for each branch was not available at press time; however, hours of operation should be available soon at http://uintalibrary.org.