Waukegan library layoffs

Responding to additional funding cuts, Waukegan Public Library will lay off five full-time employees by the end of March and cut its service hours by nearly 22 percent, officials announced Thursday. Beginning in May, the library will open one hour later and close one hour earlier most weekdays, and not open until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The reductions come at a time when library circulation has reached a new high, according to Fran Juergensmeyer, collection manager. Patrons checked out more than 642,000 items in 2010, up 30 percent over the previous year. Library traffic also increased 20 percent over the last year. At least 400,000 library visitors are expected this year. This week, Waukegan aldermen unanimously approved a measure to eliminate free parking for library patrons in the County Street garage. Starting next week, patrons will pay to park on the street or in the garage each time they visit the library.