YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- Officials from the Youngstown public library met Wednesday to discuss ways to deal with funding shortfalls that have left the system struggling.

Ideas discussed at the meeting include a 1.5 mil  levy being placed on the November ballot and merging small branches.

The board has until June 10 to decide whether or not to place the levy on the ballot.

Library director Carlton Sears said mergers would allow branches like Campbell and Struthers to remain open without having to reduce programs for things like early literacy.

Some library users, like Jim Ludt of Campbell, said a merger would make it more difficult for him to patronize the library.

"It would be a hardship, physically, because of my health. It's difficult to walk very far. I appreciate the proximity, rather than distance," Ludt said.

Joann Collins of Struthers said she prefers a library close to home because of her schedule.

"We can go to other libraries but they're far and sometimes we don't have a lot of time, you know? We're busy. We have to run errands. I only get a couple days off a week, so when it's close to home we can just shoot down here and spend some time here," Collins said.