Cutback in library hours causes community concern

1 of the San Jacinto'1— North Gateway to the Tallest Monument in the World CONSOLIDATED WITH THE CROSBY COURIER, NOVEMBER 1, 1961 THE HIGHLANDS STAR, HIGHLANDS, TEXA& THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1978 151 PER COPY Cutback In Library Hours Causes Community Concern Bv JEANIE KRATKY Many residents in and around Highlands are con¬ cerned about the cutback in j hours at Stratford Library, j Questions have arisen as to j the reason for this recent <j action. Since April 28 the county facility has had no librarian j and has been under the super¬ vision and direction of Mrs. Eva Fontenot, assistant librar¬ ian. It is almost impossible for one person, even as capable as Mrs. Fontenot, to uphold the responsibilities of a busy library such as Stratford. The county only permits Mrs. Fontenot to work 30 hours a week, as this is all that was allotted at the budget hearing in the commissioner’s court for assistant librarians to work. Only persons with a Masters Degree in Library > Science can acquire the posi¬ tion of head librarian in a Harris County facility. Even though Mrs. Fontenot is presently doing the work of librarian and doing it well in the time she is allotted, she cannot officially obtain the position because she does not have her masters. The head librarian is allotted 40 hours per week. Salary is based on the size of the library, the number of Naturally, this makes th<] job less attractive and harder! larly expressed her opinion on to obtain a qualified person to the situation at Stratford. She take and hold the ’ position, feels that possibly the county Also the working conditions because the building is small and very overcrowded for the should consider lowering the are not up to par at Stratford present required standards for county librarians. Many cap¬ able people are area residents employees, etc. This means _ being a small library the staff" unless it is approved by the at Stratford receives a much commissioner’s court, lower salary in comparison to Presently a young girl from other county facilities. the Manpower Program is With 17 county libraries in working 18 hours a week. Harris County, Stratford ranks The Hbrary js in desperate in approximately 12th place in; need of expansion. With High- circulation . This is based on 1 lands growing as rapidly as it the number of books checked is the. present building is far out monthly. This rate is par- t0o small and overcrowded to tially the reason |for low accomodate the number of salaries at Stratford .2 — : - — people who use the library. Mrs. Betty Rucka, whose family uses the library regu- number of people using the but the required masters de¬ library on a regular basis. gree disqualifies them for the Catherine Brown, Director librarian position. Many feel of Library Services for Harris improvements or an expansion County, has explained that program are in order for applications have been applied Stratford with the population at the budget hearing in rising a « it is. Commissioner Fonteno’s court for more money and working hours for the employees but it has not been approved. She also said that applications are still being taken for the librar¬ ian position at Stratford but to this date no one has been hired. Mrs. Brown said that if a person in the area would like to help at the library on a volunteer basis it would be appreciated. A substitute librarian was available to assist Mrs. Fon- teno but was only allowed to work 150 hours per year. These hours were soon used up after the librarian at High¬ lands left her position. Mrs. Brown explained that the sal¬ ary allotted for the librarian even though at present there’ is no one in the position, cannot \be used toward a sub- •• helper stitute librarian or i