“Shawnee Library Systems Could Close Due to State Shortfall”

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Shawnee Library Systems Could Close Due to State Shortfall Posted: 21 May 2010 05:37 PM PDT Top Stories Last updated 11:21 pm CT May 21, 2010. E-mail Story Print Story Shawnee Library Systems Could Close Due to State Shortfall WILLIAMSON COUNTY -- Another chapter in the Illinois budget crisis: The Shawnee Library system is running out of money. One of the system's many services is an online shared catalog system. The system serves libraries, community colleges and schools across 32 counties in Southern Illinois. But the agency has only gotten about half its funding this fiscal year, and managers say they'll have to downsize to survive. The Shawnee Library Systems circulates millions of books, tapes and magazines to libraries, schools and community colleges across Southern Illinois. Soon, fewer employees will be here to do the work. "We have to cut our payroll- we have to cut expenses further," explains director Joe Harris. Twenty-five employees with the system help enter data, maintain the online shared catalog and keep delivery running smoothly. But Harris says, because of a more than half-million dollar state shortfall, he's being forced to make some tough decisions... "Just to keep payroll going; if we keep operating as we are we will run out of money October 1st, maybe October 15th, if we're lucky and we're very thrifty. That means everything stops." To keep that from happening consolidation has come up, creating a new entity by joining forces with neighboring library systems, which would mean a move. A gray cloud, so to speak, hangs over the Shawnee Library System as Harris says the situation is so dire he's been asked to explore the possibility of selling the building. "We're somewhat like a family that's having to downsize- go to a smaller house." The general assembly will reconvene next week to attempt to pass a bare bones budget, but no one knows how soon that will happen or how much money will trickle down. "That's probably the worst part, just not knowing what's gonna come." By: Rachel Gartner rgartner@wsiltv.com Back to Previous Page

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