The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

BLOOMFIELD,IOWA -- With the tough economic conditions, even libraries are not immune to budget cuts.

The city of Bloomfield is proposing slashing the library's budget in half to save money. It's the only library in Davis county.

That would mean the library would have to cut back from 40 hours a week to 29 and a half. It also means the part time janitor would be let go, and that employees other than the librarian can only work 12 hours a week.

It's an effort to reduce the budget from $108,000 to $80,000 for the fiscal year 2012.

City Clerk and Treasurer Carol Taylor says it's better than cutting other public service positions.

"Rather than cutting employees out of the general fund departments, this year this is one of the ways we cut; rather than cutting a police officer. This year we have cut a lot of all departments. It wasn't just the library. I hope in a couple of years everything turns around."

Taylor also points to other cities in Iowa who have made similar cuts.

"Other libraries like in Des Moines are asking volunteers to help staff libraries. And that's one thing that was suggested at the council meeting. We're just going to have to wait a year or two before we continue spending like we used to."

She hopes the cutback is temporary due to the growth and expansion of the city. A public hearing will be held March 3rd.