DaytonDailyNews.com

TROY — The Troy-Miami County Public Library will eliminate Sunday hours, shorten hours on other days and reduce staff hours in response to what director Rachelle Miller said could be the library's "leanest budget ever."

Effective Sunday, Feb. 22, the library will eliminate Sunday hours. Hours at the main library in Troy will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

Hours at the library branch, the Oakes-Beitman Library in Pleasant Hill, will be noon to 7 p.m. Monday -Thursday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The third library location, the Local History Library in downtown Troy, will retain its current hours because it has a large number of volunteers.

The Troy-Miami County Public Library's estimated receipts for 2009 are expected to be less than they were in 2008 by $118,330. Since 2007, the library's revenue has decreased by $149,454, Miller said. She is taking a voluntary reduction in salary as staff will face a "significant" reduction in hours.

"We went through our budget line-item by line-item and have made a significant amount of reductions, including more than 100 hours in staff time," Miller said. "Nobody wants to do this, but revenue from the state has continued to decline since 2001. Our options are gone."

The tight budget will mean fewer new books and DVDs being purchased for the collection. Library spending for materials this year will be at least $87,725 less than 2008, Miller said.

For those who want to assist the library, the staff is creating wish lists for materials and supplies. A board member has pledged $1,000 to start a Patrons of the Library Fund at Fifth Third Bank.

A library endowment was started last fall through The Troy Foundation.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.