CHILLICOTHE, Ohio -- State budget cuts are being felt in Central Ohio -- already within the library system.
This week, the Ross County and Chillicothe Library Board will meet to decide what to cut to meet a 30-percent reduction in funding.
The system is financed 98 percent by state funds.
The library's north branch will likely close soon because of the state's budget cuts.
"It's easier to get in and out (of) than the main library and it's quieter, more peaceful, easy access, so I'll miss all that," said Sharon McComas, an area resident.
The library and the land will also likely be put up for sale.
"We're tearing down something in six weeks that we've spent 30 years on our entire adult lives building up," said Library Director Jennifer McKell.
Twenty-five percent of the employees will be laid off. The library has already stopped buying new books, videos and CDs.
Chillicothe now has an unemployment rate of 12 percent and needs the library more than ever.
"When the economic downturn first hit last fall, although it seems longer ago now, we noticed an immediate increase, especially in our computer use because people are coming in and doing their resumes on the computer or they're looking for jobs," McKell said.
Patron Jawann Hazzard at the north side branch uses the library computer to look for work. He said he has been looking for a full-time job since he was discharged from the Air Force in March 2008.
With no computer at home, Hazzard said he will now have to find another way to look for work or go to another library once the branch closes.
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