The Brown & White

The Bethlehem Area Public Library recently learned of budget cuts that will reduce hours and pay, effective Dec. 1.

Janet Fricker, the Executive Director of the Bethlehem Area Public Library, said the Main Library, located on the North Side's Church Street, will be closing at 6 p.m. on Thursday nights. It is currently open until 9 p.m.

Both the Main Library and the South Side Branch, on Webster Street, will close entirely during Musikfest, the weeklong summer music festival, held in Bethlehem.

Part-time workers' pay will be cut by 12 percent, and full-time employees will have to pay more for their health insurance benefits, she said.

"Our budget is paid for by 57 percent the City of Bethlehem, 25 percent by the state of Pennsylvania, and 15 to 20 percent by nearby communities who use the library and renew their contracts each year," she said. "Long story short: Our state funding was cut by 21 percent, and that meant a lot for $150,000 of our budget." Fricker said the cuts will hurt the library's patrons and employees.

"We are really busy, and it is a shame that we need to curtail hours when we need more hours and workers, not less," Fricker said. "We tried to make the cuts as gentle as we possibly could so it wouldn't hurt as many people."

The two libraries provide resources and services that include book, music, and DVD rentals, educational children's programs and activities, adult programs such as book discussions and guest speakers, and free internet access.

Those who use or wish to use the library on Thursday nights or during the week of Musikfest will obviously be affected. People will most likely experience a little longer of a wait for best-selling books, and the new books, DVDs, and music that come in will have longer reserve lists, said Fricker.

"We won't be able to do as many children's programs or adults' programs. A lot of the children's staff is part-time, and their hours will be cut down," said Fricker.

The material and book budget has also been cut some, so there will be fewer new books, DVDs, and CDs, she said.

According to the Bethlehem Public Area Library's Web site, the Bookmobile program will also have reduced hours on Thursday evenings.

The Bookmobile stops in various Bethlehem neighborhoods and the surrounding townships to provide the library's resources to some children and adults who would not otherwise have access to them.

"The hardest thing is that we are getting busier and busier as the economy is going down because people can't afford to buy new stuff or have internet in their house," said Fricker.

Meena Sharma, a Bethlehem resident, uses the South Side branch library about once a week for books, music and educational videos for her child. "Kids grow out of things very fast. The library saves me about $100 a month," Sharma said. With the budget cuts, Sharma anticipates having to spend more money on resources for her child.

Elliot Man, a Bethlehem resident, expressed similar sentiments. "The library is essential to Bethlehem. It's personalized. Personnel cannot be cut back because when you need something, you talk to people here, not an automated message," he said.

Fricker clarified that the current budget cut will not cause the library to lay off any current workers.

Another Bethlehem resident, Edward Barndt, said he will miss the convenience of the library. He uses the library every day for financial tracking and e-mail.

"When you don't have access, it affects you," said Man, who has been using the library for 10 years for research, amusement, and recreation. "Budget cuts are not good because libraries are one of the few things in this country that are socialized. People don't have to pay to use its services because they already pay for them out of taxes."