Centerville library makes cuts

Citing significant budget constraints, Centerville Public Library is eliminating some periodicals, a genealogy program and a digital service in 2026. Its hours also will change.

Director Emmanuel Mendez’s letter to patrons explaining what he called “difficult decisions to ensure the long-term financial stability and continued operation of the library” was posted Dec. 29 to the library’s website, centervillelibrary.info.

Mendez said the library relies heavily on property taxes as a primary source of funding, and recent property tax caps enacted by Indiana’s legislature led to a reduction of approximately 25% to the library’s operating budget.

Library leaders reviewed expenses across the organization and aimed to preserve core services as much as possible, he said.

Upcoming changes include:

• Access to Ancestry.com will no longer be available through the library.
• Hoopla digital services will be discontinued effective Feb. 1. Patrons have been able to stream or download movies, music, audiobooks, e-books, comics and TV shows. Digital services carry ongoing licensing and usage-based costs. 
• The number of periodical subscriptions will be reduced, including the Indianapolis Star, beginning in 2026.
• Plans are being finalized for upcoming library service hour changes.

Mendez said library staff understand that these changes might be disappointing and inconvenient, and they regret the impact they might have on patrons.

“These decisions were not made lightly, and they are necessary to protect the library’s ability to serve the community in the years ahead,” he said.

Mendez encourages those who would like to see library services restored or expanded to contact their local state legislators to express support for public library funding. Residents can search for their legislator’s contact information at wwn.to/findlegislator.

Last fall, Centerville’s library moved temporarily into the former town hall, 204 E. Main St., during renovations.