Community Library reducing hours at Tarentum branch starting Wednesday

The Community Library of Allegheny Valley is cutting hours at its Tarentum branch.

New hours take effect at both the Tarentum and Harrison locations on Jan. 2, according to the library.

With the new hours, the two libraries combined will be open for 77 hours weekly, four hours less than before the change.

That’s the net effect of a reduction of five hours per week in Tarentum, and an hour being added in Harrison.

Weekly, the Harrison library had been open for 13 more hours than Tarentum; under the new hours, that difference increases to 19 more hours in Harrison.

Library Director Kathy Firestone said the results of a community survey earlier this year factored into the decision to restructure the libraries’ hours. She said many wanted to see the Harrison library open earlier, and for Friday hours to be extended.

But finances are a factor.

“We only have so much money to go around,” she said. “In order to work with our budget, we have to be very careful about how many hours we can be open. That translates into money.”

As a branch, the Tarentum library has to be open only 25 hours per week, she said.

“We noticed that the usage after a certain time of the days is pretty low,” she said. “It really wasn’t worth that hour or so to be open for that time.

“We didn’t hear from any people from Tarentum about anything for hours for the library.”

Under the new hours, the Tarentum branch will be open for 29 hours per week, down from 34.

On Mondays through Wednesdays, the library will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is closing an hour earlier. On Fridays, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closing two hours earlier.

Saturday hours are unchanged at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Tarentum branch will continue to be closed Thursdays and Sundays.

“Who Knew” programs held at the library are not affected by the change in hours, Firestone said.

In Harrison, the library will be open for the same number of hours Mondays through Thursdays, but will open a half hour earlier, at 11 a.m., and close a half hour earlier, at 8 p.m.

The Harrison library gains an hour on Fridays, when it will still open at 10 a.m. but will close at 3 p.m. instead of 2 p.m.

Saturday hours are unchanged, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it remains closed on Sundays.

The reduction in service in Tarentum is not affecting the borough’s contribution to the library. The borough will again give the library $8,000 in 2019, which it has done every year since 2014, according to borough Manager Michael Nestico.

Borough Council has not discussed changing the amount, he said.

Regarding any change in hours, “We understand some of the difficulties facing public library systems,” Nestico said. “Many facilities are being forced to cut spending, staffing and resources. Part of those cost cutting measures includes a restructuring or modification of hours.

“Unfortunately, as times change, many libraries are forced to adapt to lower public use and volume,” he said. “This may be a reflection of those changes and we trust that library officials know what is best for their own operation.”

Brian Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.