By Tim Bullard

Staff Writer

tbullard@yadkinripple

Sen.Don East and others in Raleigh were hearing Wednesday from local residents about the proposed 5 percent cut in funding to N.C. libraries, a move which has local librarians responding.

At the East Bend Library there is a sign up on the front door asking patrons to call East and register an opinion against cutting the library funds. The Yadkinville library referred questions to John Hedrick, who serves as the director of the Northwest Regional Library system, which serves as the administrative offices for all of the area's library.

“We cut the payroll. Since 2006-2007 we have lost $51,221 in funding. That has really hurt us badly," said Hedrick.

“In 2006-2007 our operating budget was $532,596, and now it’s $481,375. On top of that the state is talking about making more cuts to public libraries. We got some bad news just today (Tuesday, May 18) as we are getting ready to go tomorrow. We got an e-mail from the director of our library directors’ association that the Senate is proposing a 5.9 percent cut in state aid," said Hedrick.

“They are going to pass that on to the House. That would mean a reduction of $936,133," Hedrick said.

Hedrick urged library patrons to get involved.

"We just need everyone who can to call and write or e-mail our legislators and say please don’t cut our state aid to public libraries.

"I find this incredible, that the state of North Carolina’s budget is $21 billion. State aid to public libraries if they leave it at the $15.7 million level, is seven one-thousandth of a percent of that budget. So it’s a very, very, very small amount. It’s a tragic thing as far as we are concerned.”

If the funding cuts survive the legislative process and become a reality, Hedrick said the system will use all of its resources to insure there is no reduction of services for its patrons.

“We have a fund balance. We have a fairly good fund balance if this goes on for one year, but I’m not going to make any predictions yet,” he said.

“Last year things looked pretty grim, and at the 11th hour state aid was reinstated. So I know things are a little worse this year than they were last year for the state, but I’m not going to jump to any conclusions yet at this point. If we are cut, we will have to make some serious decisions on how to go forward.”

Call your local library, he said, for information about telephone numbers and e-mails for representatives in Raleigh.

The system started July 1, 1959 with three charter members, one in Sparta, one in Danbury and one in Dobson.