The BHM Regional Library announces that, due to recent and previous budget cuts, the hours of operation at some of its library branches will be reduced.

Beginning Aug. 8, the headquarters library, located at 158 N. Market St. in Washington, will be open to the public only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Regional staff will continue to serve all eight branches of the BHM Regional Library system Monday through Friday.

Beginning Aug. 13, Martin Memorial Library, located at 200 N. Smithwick St. in Williamston will reduce its Saturday hours to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hours of operation on Sunday afternoons, weekdays and evenings will remain unaffected.

“It’s distressing to have to lay off employees or decrease their hours,” remarked Mj Carbo, BHM Regional Library director. “It’s also a real shame to have to deny our taxpayers access to our services for any reason. And it’s not that the libraries are not being used by people applying for jobs online and educating themselves for new jobs. Circulation at the Headquarters Library increased 12 percent this past year. We can only hope that as the economy improves, we will be able to reinstate these hours.”

Hours of operation at the other branches of the BHM Regional Library in Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Mattamuskeet, Ocracoke and Robersonville will not be affected at this time.

For more information about the services of the BHM Regional Library, call 252-946-6401.