The police department, for example, has already cuts hours for precinct offices and disbanded the high-profile mounted unit.

Library officials have proposed three scenarios for the libraries, all requiring fewer employees.

If the system loses 10 percent of the $3.5 million it received from the city last year, it would close the Briggs, Cadwalader, East Trenton and Skelton branches, library director Kimberly M. Bray said.

Under the second scenario -- in which the libraries receive a slight budget increase -- the East Trenton and Briggs branches share one staff and the Cadwalader and Skelton branches share another. Each branch would be open two and a half days per week, Bray said.

The third scenario, under which the system would receive $946,000 more than now proposed, would allow all of the branches to keep their current hours.

The director said the 10 percent cut would lead to closing the branches because of several factors, including the rising cost of salaries and benefits, as well as the inability to draw from depleted library investments.

"We put a great deal of time and effort into looking to maximize the resources that were given to us," said Bray, who emphasized that she understands the situation the city faces and knows the library wasn't singled out for cuts.

While the library system is managed by a board that is separate from the city government, it relies on the city for more than 90 percent of its budget.

City officials asked each department to prepare 10 percent cuts to deal with a $7 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that started on July 1.

City spokesman Kent Ashworth said every town is looking to reduce costs and that every department has the opportunity to find alternate sources of funding. Ashworth said officials wouldn't comment "piecemeal" on each department's budget.

Library patrons at the Briggs Branch on Greenwood Avenue were stunned when told of the proposal to close the branches.

"No, they can't do that," said Keke Nyemah, 15, a 10th-grader at Trenton Central High School. "That's where I go to get my quiet and peaceful time."

TCHS English teacher Lorraine Hemans said she encourages students to use the branches.

"Especially if you want to make education a priority, how can you do away with your libraries?" Hemans asked.

She said computers in the branches are essential.

"Global access depends on the internet and for a lot of people, this is where they get it," she said.

Councilman-at-large Manuel Segura said he disagrees with closing the branches "150 percent."

"If we're going to cut the budget, let's cut the budget in some other area where it's not going to hurt the people in that way," Segura said.
He called for a special council meeting to discuss each department's budget. He added that he is concerned that the city administration hasn't brought any budget proposals to the council.

South Ward Councilman Jim Coston said he would support keeping the branches open this year, with the goal of having libraries raise funds for next year.

Paying for the libraries is "an investment that will pay bigger dividends in the future," Coston said.

Coston said the city may explore savings by asking the Mercer County Library system to assume management of the city's library, as long as the branches remain open. He also said the city could look to the county park and health departments to share services.

West Ward Councilwoman Annette Lartigue, who has called for budget meetings for months, said she is concerned about the effect of the budget across every department. She said of the branches: "It would be absolutely unacceptable for them to be closed permanently" but that part-time hours are "worth a look-see."

Library board president Adrienne Hayling said the possibility of closing the branches is personally devastating.

"Our children are not very mobile," Hayling said, adding that some parents would be concerned about children being bused to the main library.

Hayling said the possibility of keeping all branches open at the current hours is only possible "if we have an angel come down," but keeping all branches open part-time would be a much better option than closing them.

Hayling said that part-time hours would be a temporary solution as the system looks for donations that would allow it to expand service in the future.

Library board member Philip Albert said the budget crisis comes at a difficult time, adding that library use has been up, new programs have been launched and Bray is off to a strong start after joining the library in April.

Albert urged city officials to examine whether other city departments can sustain deeper cuts than the library.

Contact Andrew Kitchenman at akitchenman@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5706.