WARREN, Ohio - The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has caught up with many of the people who work for the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

Library officials announced on Friday that 97 full and part-time employees are being furloughed, effective Sunday, May 3, 2020.

The system includes branches in Brookfield, Cortland, Howland, Liberty, Lordstown, Warren, as well as Bookmobile and Homebound Library services.

The layoffs are part of a personnel cost-reduction plan approved by the library Board of Trustees as a result of the library’s extended closure due to the ongoing public health pandemic.

According to a statement from the library, furloughed employees currently enrolled in the library’s health, vision, and dental insurances will remain covered, uninterrupted, at least through July 31. The employee assistance program provided by the library will also be available for all affected employees.

The library is retaining 20 staff members to continue to provide essential business functions and support its critical digital services while the library buildings are closed.

“Each of our employees is incredibly valuable to the services we provide, and this was an extremely difficult step to take,” said library Director Jim Wilkins. “However, with the prolonged closure and the expected drop in funding, it became clear it is necessary to reduce our operating costs.”

Wilkins said a projected decrease in state funding means the library is looking at a potential loss of revenue of nearly $1 million per year. About 56% of the library’s budget comes from the Public Library Fund, which receives 1.7% of the total general tax revenue collected by the State of Ohio.

The projected estimated net savings from the furloughs is about $153,000 for one month. Wilkins said the library will also be considering other cost-saving measures for the coming year.

All library locations have been closed since March 17 and will remain closed until at least June 1. Library administrators are developing a Return to Service plan that will be implemented in phases once the state stay-at-home order expires. The current lack of available masks, gloves, and disinfecting supplies could affect plans to reopen library buildings or return to full operation.

The library continues to serve customers with digital resources including eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, movies, and music, plus research and learning tools. Visit the library website at www.wtcpl.org to access free materials and resources.