Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed budget, which includes a 50 percent cut in the state's aid to public libraries, will cause Schlow Library to lose $150,000 in government funding if the plan passes.

Proposed in early March, the changes in the budget will begin in January 2004, said Betsy Allen, director of Schlow Library, 100 E. Beaver Ave.

"I think this happened so quickly that no one thought about what these changes would bring," she said.

The cut means that Schlow Library would lose about 11 percent of its operating budget, Amy Neil, a library spokeswoman, said.

The operating budget covers new books, personnel, lighting and maintenance.

"Nearly as much as we spend in one year on books, magazines and videos is going to be cut," Allen said.

Although funds will be limited, the library is not considering any complete cuts.

"We would try to reduce things, not cut them," Allen said.

Reduced evening and weekend hours, closing on Sundays, and cutting back on children's programs, such as story time and summer reading programming, would all have to be made, Allen said.

There is also the chance the library would charge patrons who sign out books or videos, Neil said.

The Schlow Library staff consists of 15 full-time and 18 part-time employees, any of whom might suffer cut-backs.

"I'm hoping that people will see that cutting aid to public libraries isn't the way to help the economy," Allen said.

Centre County Public Library, in Bellefonte, is another one of the six local public libraries that will be affected if Rendell's proposed budget is passed.

"We don't know exactly how we are going to be affected," Chari Lyons, district consultant for Centre County Public Library, said.

A few of the day-to-day amenities that may be cut back on include free Internet access, bookmobile, senior resources, operating hours and book deliveries, she said.

"We thought the state of Pennsylvania was stepping up when [former Governor Tom Ridge] was in office," Lyons said. "He was a supporter of libraries."

Libraries are just a small part of the educational budget, she said. She encourages the public to show support and write to state representatives and senators with concerns.

"Each person who walks in to the library gets a pamphlet on how to support the libraries," she said. "We need people to understand how important funding to a library is."