The quality of life in Ledyard will decline on Dec. 3. 

That’s the day that Mayor Fred Allyn will severely reduce the hours of operation for the Bill and Gales Ferry Libraries. Bill’s hours will be reduced from 68 to 42 hours per week and Gales Ferry hours will be reduced from 60 to 24 hours per week to save $118,000. The mayor rejected the library director's plan to keep both libraries open for six days with reduced hours. Why? 

Allyn has targeted the library with this nearly 20 percent cut in funding while all other departments have had minor cuts. Why?

Reduced hours and library staff will:

[naviga:ul]

[naviga:li]Make it difficult for tutors to arrange meeting times with their students.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Reduce research time for adults and college and Ledyard students.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Restrict the use of museum passes.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Require community groups to meet on a different day or time or elsewhere.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Eliminate some of the current programs run by library staff.[/naviga:li]

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And much more. 

I urge the mayor and the Town Council to restore this funding to the library budget or to develop a budget that more equitably distributes the cuts. 

John Bolduc, chairman

Ledyard Library Commission

Gales Ferry