The Pierce County Library System's Board of Trustees adopted the library's 2013 operating budget of $25,423,927 and $1,632,000 for capital improvements.
The budget addresses a $3 million budget shortfall.
In 2013, the library system will face its fourth year of continued economic downturn due largely from reduced revenue from property taxes, which represents more than 90 percent of the library system's funding source.
From 2010-2013 the budget has been reduced by $6.4 million.
Among the changes implemented to fill a $3 million budget shortfall is the plan to trim back books and materials buying decisions.
The books and materials budget will decrease by $1 million, representing a 25 percent reduction from 2012.
"We made difficult decisions again this year, keeping in mind accountability to taxpayers and maintenance of core services," said Linda Ishem, chair of the library system's Board of Trustees. "We made reductions in areas we anticipate will have the least detrimental impact on the hundreds of thousands of children and adults who rely on Pierce County Library."
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