Library hours could get cut in La Crosse

Four other recommendations were brought to library board

A plan to cut hours at La Crosse’s two branch libraries turns out to be just one out of five such recommendations.

Library board and city council member James Cherf said there were other plans to trim costs, including cutting back hours at the Main St. library.

What was settled on, Cherf said, was trimming about 12 hours each from the current 39-hour schedules at both library branches.

The times affected are the least busy, according to a three-year study at both branches.

Cherf also said they opted against having just one librarian on at any given time out of safety concerns.

The changes will go into effect at the beginning of the year. The implementation comes as La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat has called for combining the county and city library systems in order to provide services and save money.