Yukon library warns hiring freeze and vacancies are shrinking programs, staff say

Sarah (last name not provided), Yukon city librarian, told the Yukon Library Board on Jan. 15 that two budgeted but vacant positions and an official hiring freeze have reduced the library's programming and stretched remaining staff.

The staffing shortfall has led the library to reduce some story-time sessions, pause evening family programs and reassign duties: Shauna Dietz, the librarian's assistant, is running adult programming while the children's programmer covers young-adult duties, and Sarah said she is buying young-adult materials and continuing outreach at the county detention center.

The staffing problem, Sarah said, stems from a vacant young-adult programmer position and the recent resignation of a 19-hour-per-week circulation clerk, Moira Woodall, who left for full-time employment. "We're flying a wing and a half short right now," Sarah said, describing the impact on day-to-day operations.

Why this matters: Board members heard that the cuts affect regular, year-round services as well as the summer reading program. The library relies in part on state and county funding streams that the director said the library has historically qualified for; the combination of vacancies and a hiring freeze could complicate future qualification and service levels.

Staffing and programming details

Sarah told the board the library has resumed some teen programming but has cut back other offerings. Baby story fun and toddler story times were reduced from two monthly sessions…