The summer of 2009 was a grim time for area librarians as the state fiscal crisis found its way to library bookshelves across the county.

Librarians were warned in late spring that state funding for libraries could be reduced by as much as 30 percent. A mass lobbying effort across the state kept the cut to about 17 percent, but area librarians still are struggling with the fallout.

Area libraries have cut hours, reduced salaries, asked for donations and passed levies since the issues became evident during the summer. A complicating factor for area libraries is the increased needs of patrons amid reduced hours of operation.

Joe Zappitello, director of Harbor-Topky Library in Ashtabula, said the library reduced operations by 10 hours but circulation is up 10 percent. He said people are borrowing books instead of buying them and need time on computers to look for jobs.

The Conneaut Public Library decided to close on Saturdays to reduce labor costs.

“There is an outrage about not being open Saturday, and I feel their pain, but something had to give, and it was Saturday,” said Kathy Pape, director in Conneaut.

A good portion of library budgets is tied to state revenues, which presents a challenge if reality dips below projections.

Present two-year budgets still may be affected if the state economic recovery is below expectations.

“In 2008, I had no idea were going to put a levy on the ballot,” Zappitello said. He said the dire economic projections forced the library to put a levy on the ballot to ensure the economic viability of the library.

Libraries benefiting from levy funds, or significant donations, are in a bit better shape than those that don’t, he said.

“It runs the gamut,” Zappitello said.

Area libraries have dealt with the budget crunch in a variety of ways, but reducing hours and cutting purchases of new books, magazines and movies seems to constitute the crux of the cuts.

Tom Milligan, community relations coordinator for the Ashtabula County District Library, said the budget has dropped from $1.7 million in 2008 to $1.1 million in 2010.

“It’s been a pretty sizable loss of revenue,” Milligan said of the district library, which includes Geneva, Ashtabula downtown, Orwell and the Bookmobile.

Hours at the downtown Ashtabula Library have drooped from 63 hours weekly in 2008 to 46 hours now. He said the Geneva Library has dropped from 59 hours weekly in 2008 to 40 now.

The public has stepped up to the plate at many area libraries.

“They (the public) have been quite generous in donations,” Milligan said of the $3,000 that came in the last six months.

The donated funds have been used to buy new books, DVDs and magazine subscriptions, Milligan said.

“We are coping by buying less materials for the public,” Pape said.

A detailed analysis of every expenditure is also a key to remaining fiscally solvent, Pape said.

“Every single line item of our budget is scrutinized,” she said.

The public also has responded in Conneaut.

“I’m wheeling and dealing with our vendors,” she said.

“We put up a sign for book buying,” Pape said of a request for help from patrons. “I would say 75 books in a month (are donated by the public),” she said.

Another connection with the public has been memorial books honoring a loved one, said Susan Hill, director of the Andover Library.

“We have really critical support from our community. This has been a lifesaver,” she said.

The financial challenge eventually wears thin on those involved in keeping libraries operating.

“You can only be so creative. There is just a point where you can’t turn down the thermostat any more,” Hill said.

“We pretty much froze all spending. It will be January till we get back to purchasing items,” said Andrew Davis, director of the Orwell Library.

Davis said he is trying to be as creative as possible, but hours of operation have been cut, and so have employees’ hours.

“We are trying to stay open as much as possible,” Davis said.

“I remember back in the day when money wasn’t an issue for the state,” he said.

The initial cutback of hours was a shock to the system, but people have adjusted well, librarians said.

“There was a lot of surprise. … For the first couple of days, some of us stood in the parking lot before it (the library) opened,” Milligan said.

“People understand it. They know if you don’t have the money, you have to cut somewhere. … People understand the way of the world.”