Fallston Library Saved By System-Wide Layoffs, Furloughs And Sunday Closures

By implementing system-wide layoffs, furloughs and salary reductions, slashing the materials budget by nearly 20%, and closing all branches of the Harford County Public Library system on Sundays, the Fallston Branch has been saved and will remain open.

The decision and recommendations of the Library Board of Trustees were announced during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

“The Board of Trustees has removed the closure of a branch, specifically Fallston, from the budget reduction proposal,” the press release states.

A public hearing on the budget proposal will proceed as planned on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at Fallston High School.

Here is the full press release:

Library Budget Reductions

The Harford County Public Library held a press conference at 3pm today at the Bel Air Branch to announce the Library Board of Trustees’ recommendations for the FY10 budget reductions and the impact these reductions will have on services throughout the county.

“These decisions were not easy,” stated Library ...Continue Reading

Tags: budget, Caplan, fallston, furlough, layoff, library, tax

Fallston Library May Close In Wake Of Harford Budget Cuts

The Fallston Branch of the Harford County Public Library may close by the end of the month in a cost-saving manuever deemed necessary after the County Executive and County Council mandated an additional 5% cut from each departmental budget.

The Library Board of Trustees will meet Thursday to determine the fate of the Fallston Branch, which was picked for closure based on its old age, poor location, and apparent lack of use, after the library system learned it would have to make another $800,000 in unanticipated budget cuts.

In an email sent to all library staff Thursday evening, library director Audra Caplan wrote:

The Harford County Public Library (HCPL) Board of Trustees, in response to an unanticipated, additional $800,000, or 5% budget cut from the County Council on Friday May 29, will vote on the necessity of closing the Fallston Branch at the June 18th Board Meeting. The branch closure is ...Continue Reading

Tags: budget, Caplan, fallston, library