New Library Hours Start Monday

Beginning Monday, the will reduce the hours it’s open by 10 a week as part of a countywide effort to lower spending.

The library isn’t alone: Each of Cobb’s 17 libraries is lowering operation hours. For all the new schedules, click here.

Here is the Powder Springs Library’s new schedule, with the former hours—which are in effect until Monday—in parentheses.

• Monday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (10-8)
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (10-8)
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (10-8)
• Thursday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10-8)
• Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (10-6)
• Saturday: 1 to 6 p.m. (10-6)
• Sunday: Closed

The Cobb County Public Library System’s Facebook page says: “Our statistics have indicated that some branches had consistently low usage on certain days, and those numbers helped us to make our decision.”

In response to the reduced hours, one person wrote on the page: “Let's hope that these will be temporary changes.”

Another comment reads: "I just want to say how much I appreciate the way you have worked through the mandatory budget cuts. We won't all be 'delighted' with the changes, but we still have access to our libraries and our books!"

Originally, County Commission Chairman Tim Lee the Powder Springs Library and 12 others out of the 17, which was met with much opposition, including on Marietta Square.

But Lee and the other members of the Board of Commissioners that kept all the libraries open while avoiding a tax increase.

That plan includes closing the Windy Hill Senior Center and the county's adult day-care center, shifting the Mable House amphitheater to rental-only use, and furloughing county employees for five days each.

Those moves and several one-time cuts and actions, including tapping $4.5 million in reserve funds, closed a projected deficit of more than $27 million for the year ending Sept. 30.

On Tuesday, the board : May 27, June 17, July 1, Aug. 5 and Sept. 1, which are all Fridays. Public safety will spread furloughs throughout the remaining fiscal year rather than shut down on those days.