Since budget cuts are affecting the state of California, it is starting to take a toll on schools, especially the Schauerman Library at EC.

With hours being cut and limited services offered, the budget cuts have hit the library hard. The library used to open at 7:30a.m., now it opens at 8a.m. and closes at 8p.m. instead of 9p.m. The library also closes early on Friday which is at 12:30p.m. The things that were cut back at the library was the hard-copy periodicals and microfilm holdings meaning that students will not be able to have these resources available to them. Other services in the library that were also limited was the periodical reserve area which now closes at 3p.m. every day, and is moved over to the circulation desk to consolidate the services. As of right now, the library will be open during the winter session but the hours will be anticipated.

“We may lose hourly staffing. We have had reductions already, and may have some in the near future, but it is unknown,” Ed Martinez of the Library said. “There is no money for hourly staff.”

Even though the budget cuts are affecting the library, they are still open to letting federal work study students work, other than that, the library will not be hiring anyone else to work according to Martinez.

“We are waiting for another announcement for the budget cuts,” Martinez said.

Currently there are no plans in mind for the next semester. However, the hours will change again. The employees of the library are just waiting and having good expectations for the library services as well as having good expectations about their jobs. Right now, the library is doing the best they can in order to provide the services available to students.

“We appreciate the students bearing with us since we’re going through these economic times. We are trying our best,” Martinez said.