MERRILLVILLE -- The Lake County Public Library system is preparing to cut hours and services at a time when library patronage is on the rise, director Larry Acheff said.
A three-page cost containment plan was presented to the library's board of directors on Thursday.
The plan was drafted in response to state tax reforms that reduce library operating money and eliminate capital project funds.
In 2010, the county library system could lose in $177,258 budgeted for day-to-day operations, and another $900,000 earmarked for capital purchases like computers.
Meanwhile, Acheff said, the slowdown in the economy is causing more people to visit local libraries.
"Bad economic times mean more people come to us to use the Internet to look for jobs," he said.
People are also checking out more books, movies and other materials.
In 2007, Acheff said, the county's central and 10 branch libraries issued 20,000 new library cards to Lake County residents.
Acheff said he won't know the full impact of the tax reforms until after a May budget seminar hosted by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
The library board, however, is considering eliminating Sunday library hours, shortening weekday hours, increasing fees and canceling plans to equip all of its branches with wireless Internet service.