Just a reminder that all branches of the North Olympic Library System will be closed from Monday, March 29 through Saturday, April 3 as a cost-saving measure.  All employees will be on an unpaid furlough leave during this time.  The Library’s website will not be available, bins for returning library materials will be locked, community meeting rooms will not be available, and all NOLS buildings will go dark.  All NOLS libraries will reopen for business on Monday, April 5 at their regular times.

The Library Board is implementing this library closure, and a second one in late summer 2010, to help close an anticipated $163,000 budget shortfall.  The budget gap is the result of the cumulative effects of inflation, the loss of timber revenue, and Washington law which caps the Library’s property tax budget at no more than a 1% increase per year without a vote of the people.

The Library Board is considering asking the voters of Clallam County to approve a property tax levy rate increase from 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 50 cents per $1,000 in November 2010.