Hall libraries closing on weekends starting Sat.

GAINESVILLE - All branches of the Hall County Library System will be closed on weekends effective Saturday and hours the rest of the week are being cut, all because of continued budget problems, according to the system director.

Word of the plans first surfaced a week ago.

The new hours of operation, according to system director Adrian Mixson, are:

Monday 12:00-8:00
Tuesday 9:00-6:00
Wednesday 9:00-6:00
Thursday 12:00-8:00
Friday 9:00-5:00
Saturday and Sunday - Closed

"Your library is funded from three sources of revenue," Mixson wrote on the system's Facebook page. "While county government provides 80-percent most fiscal years, state government provides 15-percent, (and) fines, fees, and the rest gifts. The state has presented our local libraries with some significant funding challenges for 2013. In addition, the increased cost of health insurance has drained our reserves."

Mixson did note that "in spite of these revenue challenges, this year the county commission has constructed a new branch that will increase services in North Hall."