Libraries feel crunch

Across the Indiana, libraries are dealing with the dual demands of diminishing tax support and greater need, causing some to take the drastic steps of closing branches and others -- including Allen County's -- to develop contingency plans for cutting branch hours.

A plan to close branches in Indianapolis drew widespread public protest, but in Auburn, the reaction was muted and, in a community that knows about belt-tightening, understanding. That first week, Eckhart Public Library Director Janelle Graber stood outside at the previous opening hour of 9 a.m. to inform patrons of the change, answering questions and apologizing for the inconvenience. "I frankly expected to be yelled at," Graber said. "What I generally heard was, 'Oh, it could be worse.' " The Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne saw about 1.2 million visits last year - an all-time high, Director Jeff Krull said.