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Effective Monday, June 6, hours were reduced at most of the branches within the Beaufort County Library System as part of the county’s effort to deal with loss of staff.<!--more-->

Currently, the library system is short 21 positions; reduction of public service hours will allow the library to provide services in light of the loss of 25% of its staff.   Library administration developed the new public service hours schedule based upon current customer usage patterns so as to minimize the impact to the community. The Library Board of Trustees approved the new schedule and the South Carolina State Library, as required by statute, granted a waiver.

Library branches in Beaufort and Hilton Head will be cut back from 60 to 40 hours per week. They will be open Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  All branch libraries in the system will be closed on Sundays.

The Lobeco branch will remain open for 40 hours each week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.   The St. Helena branch, located at St. Helena Elementary School, will remain at 22 1/2 hours with no change in hours.  It will be open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., closed Friday and open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The new St. Helena Branch Library project will continue to move forward toward a completion date of November 2012.  For more information on the schedule change and on other library activities, visit www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.  The site provides continuous access to information, calendars, databases and the online catalogue.

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<strong>book store opens at beaufort library</strong>

A long-time dream of the Friends of the Beaufort County Library has become a reality.  Through the efforts of Library Director Wlodek Zaryczny and the downtown Beaufort library branch staff, the group has established a new, gently-used book store in the former Beaufort District Collection Room, located on the main floor to the right as you walk into the Beaufort library.  Current hours of operation are Tuesdays from 4-8 p.m. and Fridays from 1-5 p.m.

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Friends of the Beaufort County Library contributed more than $39,000 last year for unfunded programs, materials and equipment at the Beaufort, St. Helena and Lobeco branches.  Those dollars came from fundraisers, such as the annual fall and spring book sales.  FOL hopes to add the funds raised from the year-round Gently-Used Book Store to their annual contribution.

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While the annual fall and spring book sales will continue, residents and visitors can now purchase books year-round as opposed to twice a year.  According to Book Store Manager Geni Flowers, there is a large selection of excellent quality, gently-used books in a wide variety of interests.  All books in the store are those donated by residents and visitors to Beaufort; and, the shelves are continually re-stocked with donated books, offering affordable prices starting at just 50 cents.  For more information, call 843-812-3574.

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