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Warren-Trumbull County Public Library announces staff furloughs due to COVID-19 pandemic

(04/24/20) – Warren-Trumbull County Public Library (W-TCPL) is announcing that 97 full- and part-time employees will be furloughed, effective Sunday, May 3, 2020.

The library Board of Trustees approved the personnel cost-reduction plan as a result of the library’s extended closure due to the ongoing public health pandemic.

Furloughed employees currently enrolled in the library’s health, vision, and dental insurances will remain covered, uninterrupted, at least through July 31. The employee assistance program provided by the library will also be available for all affected employees.

The W-TCPL is retaining 20 staff members to continue to provide essential business functions and support its critical digital services while the library buildings are closed.

“Each of our employees is incredibly valuable to the services we provide, and this was an extremely difficult step to take,” said W-TCPL Director Jim Wilkins. “However, with the prolonged closure and the expected drop in funding, it became clear it is necessary to reduce our operating costs.”

Wilkins said a projected decrease in state funding means the library is looking at a potential loss of revenue of nearly $1 million per year. About 56% of the W-TCPL’s budget comes from the Public Library Fund, which receives 1.7% of the total general tax revenue collected by the State of Ohio.

The projected estimated net savings from the furloughs is about $153,000 for one month. Wilkins said the library will also be considering other cost-saving measures for the coming year.

All W-TCPL locations have been closed since March 17 and will remain closed until at least June 1. Library administrators are developing a Return to Service plan that will be implemented in phases once the state stay-at-home order expires. The current lack of available masks, gloves, and disinfecting supplies could affect plans to reopen library buildings or return to full operation.

“We thank all our employees for their dedication to the library, and we look forward to the time when our library buildings can reopen and we can again fully serve the community,” said Wilkins.

The library continues to serve customers 24/7 with digital resources including eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, movies, and music, plus research and learning tools. Visit the library website at www.wtcpl.org to access free materials and resources.

The W-TCPL includes libraries in Brookfield, Cortland, Howland, Liberty, Lordstown, Warren, and Bookmobile and Homebound Library services.

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For more information, contact: Cheryl Bush, Marketing & Public Relations Manager, at bushc@wtcpl.org.