Average Girl Reads

Today, the Mecklenburg County Library Board of Trustees voted to lay off 84 people and cut salaries in order to avoid more serious cuts. I don't live in Mecklenburg County but I feel their pain. Several years ago, we had a similar budget shortfall here in Gaston County and library operating hours at all the branches were shortened. I still miss being able to go get books on a Sunday. If our library hadn't implemented the online reserve system, it would be difficult for a daytime worker like me to get books at all. Being able to pick out my books online is a big help because then they are waiting for me in a stack when I slide into my local branch right before closing. Still, it isn't the same as browsing the stacks like I did when I was a kid. Now a whole new group of people is going to be deprived of that pleasure.