Community support for preserving Salem library comes into focus during budget meeting

City library  workers said deep proposed cuts would effectively shut down the library by eliminating or reducing popular reading and literacy programs for children, outreach work and nearly half the open hours.

The city’s preliminary budget released last week cuts 51 full-time positions across city departments including 23 full-time positions at the library, 15 full-time positions from parks maintenance crews, and two part-time employees at Center 50+. 

Supporters and library employees poised to lose their…