Book borrowers looking to spend a Tuesday afternoon in the Greenville Area Public Library will have to rethink their plans.

Decreased funding from state and local governments, forced the library board to take some drastic money-saving measures, said Sheila Kretser, library director.

Beginning Jan. 1, the library will be closed three days a week instead of two; hours on the remaining four days will be shortened. Library cards for people who live in communities that don't support the library will increase from $25 to $35 a year. Overdue fines will double from 10 cents to 20 cents, and two part-time employees will lose their jobs.

"It makes me feel terrible," Miss Kretser said. "It's something we never experienced before. It's nothing that we've ever had to deal with before. It's devastating, for the staff and the public."

The budgetary shortfalls were created when the Legislature cut half the funding for libraries. Libraries, Miss Kretser said, were assured the funding would be made up from other areas.

However, the budget still hasn't been passed, causing troubles for schools and libraries alike as school boards try to find ways to make ends meet with no state education subsidy.

State funding makes up 20 percent of the library's budget, Miss Kretser said.

Adding to the financial problems, Greenville council also was forced to reduce its funding of the library. Council, in compliance with the borough's state-mandated fiscal-recovery plan, dropped its contribution to the library from $15,000 a year to a donation that borough finances allow. This year the contribution was $8,000. Because Greenville is a Pennsylvania distressed community, council must follow a fiscal-recovery plan under Act. 47.

Despite numerous fund-raisers by the Friends of the Library, the shortfall still couldn't be filled, Miss Kretser said

"We've been fund raising to the nth degree," Miss Kretser said. "We don't really know what we're going to do now."

She said the library board may approach Greenville council and Hempfield and Sugar Grove townships supervisors to see if an increase in the communities' support is possible.

New hours for the library will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The library will be closed Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at: ateutsch@sharonherald.com