MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Martinsburg-Berkeley County public Library officials painted a grim picture during the first of four scheduled public hearings regarding the potential impact of a $500,000 budget cut through the Berkeley County Schools’ excess levy.
A handful of people attended the Tuesday afternoon session at the library’s Martinsburg branch to express their concerns about potential cuts to hours, programs and services.
Library Director Pam Coyle said efforts to make up the shortfall have been unsuccessful. She said the right people are not getting involved.
“Unfortunately that’s the first reaction from the people who have the ability and the voice. From federal to state to local level who say, ‘this is important to me that we have this library in place,’ I’m not hearing that voice,” Coyle said.
The library has charged for certain programs and materials in the past, but Coyle said trying to raise revenue cuts off a whole group of people who rely on the libraries and their services is difficult to propose.
“For me it’s disastrous. It goes against everything I think a library should be,” Coyle said.
Still, suggestions for ways to generate revenue are not being ruled out. Coyle said their passport services alone pay for a full-time position.
The next hearing takes place April 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Library.
A survey is currently available online for people to comment as well.