September 30, 2024 |
Photo – Library books – Bigfoot99 file photo
County-wide budget cuts cause the Carbon County Library System to close its Sinclair branch, effective today.
A written statement provided by Library Director Maria Wenzel states that this fiscal year, the Carbon County Library System received $24,000 less than the previous year. With roughly 80% of the library’s funding coming from the county, primarily for staffing and operations, the decision was made to close the Sinclair branch as of today.
After the county budget was finalized in July, the Public Library Board of Carbon County began reviewing every branch, looking for cost and visitor statistics. Data showed that the Sinclair branch received the fewest patrons, with a total of 161 visits from July of 2023 to July of 2024. Factoring in the operational cost of the Sinclair branch, each visitor cost the library system $75.10. In comparison the Medicine Bow Library received five times as many visitors, with 801 people using the town’s library during the same period of time. Also from July of 2023 to July of 2024, the Hanna Branch received 581 visits.
Library Director Wenzel wrote that the statistics, combined with the budget cuts, made keeping the Sinclair branch open financially irresponsible.
The Sinclair library isn’t the only branch affected by the recent budget shortfall. The library board determined that more cuts were necessary, including reductions in operation expenditures across the board and reducing the hours of the Medicine Bow Library. More cuts are not off the table.
In her written statement, Library Director Wenzel wrote, “Our librarians and the Library Board are shaken by the closure; however, it is our job to be financially responsible with the taxpayers’ funds we have been entrusted with. With decreased foot traffic and low circulation, we cannot financially justify spending taxpayer dollars during a budget pinch on resources that are under utilized. We believe our residents deserve quality services throughout the entire system and are committed to keeping that our top priority.”
Carbon County Library staff are asking for the public’s understanding while they work through these trying financial times. It is not clear what will happen to the books and other material contained within the Sinclair Library. As of the reporting of this story, Library Director Wenzel has not returned our reporter’s phone call.
In the meantime, library staff will continue to provide service at the Elk Mountain, Encampment, Hanna, Little Snake River Valley, Medicine Bow, Saratoga, and Rawlins branches. Sinclair library users are encouraged to visit the Rawlins branch, located in the Carbon Building at 215 West Buffalo Street.
