Book deliveries halted

DALTON, Ga. -- Jan Everts' favorite books are mysteries by writers such as Vince Flynn and Phillip Margolin.

"I usually like to see how the truth unfolds," she said.

Ms. Everts can't afford cable at her senior living community in Calhoun, Ga., and books are her escape. She's used to reading about 20 books every three weeks, but she's not sure how often she'll get to read now that the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System is ending its van service.

The service delivered books to homebound residents, day-care centers and other community stops in Gordon, Murray and Whitfield counties.

Connie McMahon coordinates the service, picks out the books to carry and drives the van.

Ms. McMahon said the program started in the 1940s with a covered Army ambulance and once was a full-on bookmobile before earlier budget cuts reduced it to a van service, she said.

Ms. McMahon is retiring at the end of this month after 33 years and the library decided to end the van service -- which costs about $60,000 a year -- in response to state budget cuts, library director Joe Forsee said.

But he said he's hoping volunteers will take over delivering books to about 19 homebound residents.

"People think it's just a book, but it's a lot more than that," Ms. McMahon said. "When you are by yourself, you're ill, you can't get out, then a book is a lifeline."

Mr. Forsee said the library system has lost 14 percent of its state funding in a year, from about $696,000 in 2009 to about $600,000 in 2010. More cuts are expected when the new fiscal year starts July 1, he said.

Among other reductions, the library has cut its full-time staff by 25 percent, he said. The van service is the latest thing to go as officials work to serve the most people on a shrinking budget.

The Georgia Public Library Service reported in February that visits to the state's 61 public library systems increased 10.47 percent from 2008 to 2009.

"It's the worst time in the world, when so many people are needing more help than ever, that we have budget cuts to this degree," Mr. Forsee said.

He said cities and counties that help fund the library system have held funding steady through the recession.

Whitfield County Commission Chairman Mike Babb said that, although he'd like to see the service continue, the county can't afford to increase its library contribution right now.

"The mobile library is a very nice thing," he said. "But in these economic times, you've got to look at how many people are being affected versus the cost for it."