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Radford council approves trimming library hours amid budget shortfall after large public turnout
Summary
Radford City Council voted to reduce Radford Public Library hours by four hours weekly as part of broader budget reductions after dozens of residents urged the council to avoid cuts. Library leaders and residents detailed services and usage during a packed public-comment period.
Radford City Council voted to reduce weekly hours at the Radford Public Library by four hours as part of citywide budget reductions, after two hours of public comment from library patrons and staff urging the council not to cut services.
The measure was introduced during a wider discussion of budget shortfalls. Council member Kelly (last name not specified in the public transcript) said she had reexamined regional comparisons and library spending before recommending a four-hour reduction. "I'm still gonna make the recommendation that we cut the library by 4 hours," Kelly said, citing her review of hours and per-capita expenditures.
The action follows more than an hour of public testimony from longtime patrons, parents, students and library partners. Elizabeth Sensibaugh, Director of the Radford Public Library, told council members the library serves a wide range of residents and that the branch has returned money in recent years to help the city's budget. "In '23,…
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