A recent change to the Maysville Public Library’s hours could have far-reaching effects: losing state aid, cutting days from the children’s summer feeding program and jeopardizing annual town events.
At a special meeting April 23, the Maysville Board of Trustees approved several cost-cutting measures. Those measures included cutting the hours the public library is open and decreasing the library director's employment from full-time to part-time.
“A lot of people don’t like it,” said Joy Taylor, the trustee over the library and the lone dissenting vote against the library changes.
The library’s new hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The library was previously open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
The change is already affecting library users like Mike Lawson. He visits the library about every three weeks (the length of book checkouts) to turn in one book and to check out a new one. Despite his book being due on Tuesday, he had to return to the library on Wednesday to exchange his books.
“I try to make it in here to find books to read,” Lawson said. “I’m looking for anything to read.”
The decrease in hours could also affect the state aid the library receives.
According to the “Oklahoma State Aid Checklist – User Services” from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, libraries in towns with fewer than 2,000 people are required to be open at least 15 hours per week and at least two hours after 5 p.m. each week, to qualify for state aid.
Maysville has a population of 1,087, according to the 2025 ODL Annual Statistics Report. While the reduced hours add up to 16.5 total open hours, the new schedule only includes 1.5 hours after 5 p.m.
In an email to the News Star, ODL Public Information Office Director Kaylee Reed confirmed the requirement and explained that determination for state aid happens "through the annual application and review cycle rather than immediately." While referring us to local leaders for specifics on Maysville, Reed added, "ODL is available to work with communities to support compliance and continued service."
Maysville Library Director Janet Dinwiddie confirmed that the library will not qualify for state aid if the new hours remain in effect. If the library hours are adjusted to once again include two hours after 5 p.m., then that state aid eligibility would be restored.
Other libraries in nearby towns with fewer than 2,000 in population have found a variety of ways to fulfill the requirement:
- In Ringling (population 875), the library is open until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
- In Rush Springs (population 1,024), the library is open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.
- In Allen (population 803), the library is open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The Maysville Public Library received $2,132 in state aid during fiscal year 2025, according to the 2025 ODL Annual Statistics Report.
According to Dinwiddie, that money funds the Oklahoma Virtual Library on Libby, which provides access to ebooks and audiobooks, and the Junior Library Guild, which provides new children's and young adult books for the library. Without the additional funds, the future status of these programs is unknown.
The library is also a site for the Chickasaw Summer Feeding Program, where children and teens under 18 can pick up a meal box with breakfast and lunch. During previous summers, the program served an average of 20 to 40 children each day.
“In the summertime, there are kids here before I open,” Dinwiddie said. “They eat their breakfast, play a game, eat lunch, play another game and go home when I close.”
Because of the library’s reduced hours, the availability of those meals would be limited to three days a week. The library also hosts other events throughout the year, which could see potential changes.
The Wiley Post Festival, which serves as a fundraiser for the library, is planned and organized by the library director and the library board. When asked if she would have the time to plan the annual festival this fall, Dinwiddie replied, “Maybe.”
She also organizes the Christmas gift shop, where schoolchildren can do their Christmas shopping. The library works with the school so all students can visit the shop and get presents for their family members. Dinwiddie said she should still be able to continue this event.
With the reduction in hours, Dinwiddie was also reclassified as a part-time employee, reducing her salary and eliminating her health benefits.
The Maysville native has directed the library for 14 years and holds Public Library Certification Level 3 with a Silver Medal. Level 3 is the highest certification available to library workers without a library-specific college degree.
“I expected to retire from here when I’m like 80 or something, but now I don’t know,” Dinwiddie said.