Beginning March 1, Reed Memorial Library will reduce operating hours. We’ll open a little later, close a little earlier, and be closed on Sunday. Keep reading to find out why.

This change is another part of our effort to adjust to the loss of state funds. Our shortfall began in July, 2025, with an annual loss of $200 thousand due to changes in the new state budget. 49% of our operating funds come from the state, so this is a dramatic cut. We’ve already reduced costs where we can, but it’s not enough to make up the shortfall. We started cutting spending in the fall by renegotiating contracts and subscription services and leaving vacant staff positions unfilled. Reducing our hours is the next step we can take without affecting your services.

We looked at foot traffic and our heaviest visited days and times and made changes based on those patterns. The first hour in the morning and the last hour at night are our slowest times. The least busy day of the week is Sunday. Trimming these hours from our schedule means we come closer to meeting the budget shortfall. For most of you, the regular hours that you use the library won’t be affected.

These are our new hours, starting March 1, 2026:

Monday through Thursday 10am to 8pm
Friday 10am to 6pm
Saturday 10am to 5pm
Closed on Sunday

As we look at ways to save, our highest priority is to balance the budget without reducing services to you. This reduction in hours won’t close the financial gap completely, but it’s going to help. We appreciate your understanding as we all adjust to these funding changes.