After a storm of protests over funding cuts, Orange County officials reinstated hours at branch libraries in the county late last week.
The library cuts struck a nerve in Carrboro, because a higher percentage of hours were cut at the Carrboro Branch Library at McDougle Middle School than in other sites around the county.
County officials restored the hours, which were trimmed in the wake of a tight county budget passed in late June. To save money, county officials revised a policy on temporary workers, which had a big effect on the library’s ability to stay staffed.
The cuts also spurred the resignation of Jake Lehrer, who has worked in the county library system since 1984 and as librarian in Carrboro since 1996, when McDougle opened.
Although she did not indicate that it was the result of the recent cuts, Orange County Library director Brenda Stephens also announced July 9 that she intends to retire Nov. 1.
The new library hours, which take effect on July 28 are:
• Main Library (Hillsborough) — Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.;
• Carrboro Branch Library at McDougle — Monday through Thursday 3:30-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m.;
• Cedar Grove — Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.;
• Carrboro Cybrary — Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
—Staff reports