It’s back to school on Monday for most area students. But if students are in need of the computers at Mohr Library or a place to do their homework after school on that day they are out of luck.

Due to budget constraints, the library will be closed every third Monday so the staff can take furlough days. The furlough days start Monday, April 20, continue on Monday, May 11, Monday, June 1, and two weeks later on June 15.

“The closings are due to furlough of all town employees, related to uncertainty of state funds,” read a notice hanging on the library’s door.

Library Director Jon Anderson said the decision was made by the library board of trustees as an alternative to layoffs because the library is already understaffed.

“We’ve been level funded for years now and we had to cut one full-time position to part-time,” he said, referring to the young adult librarian position. “We’re very closely living within our budget, and we have just enough staff.”

When asked about choosing Mondays, Anderson said the first three furlough days were planned to coincide with the “most common lending period” – books are loaned for three weeks at a time and tend to come back on the day they’re due. The library’s busiest days seem to be Wednesdays and other days, he explained, had to be kept for logistical reasons.

“I didn’t want to choose Saturdays because they are special days when people who can’t come during the week come on Saturdays,” Anderson said.

Special drop-in activities are also offered for children on Saturdays.

Mayor Joseph Polisena was the one who suggested – and then requested – furlough days as a way of closing the gap left in this year’s budget after the state cut its community aid. Anderson said he had heard the mayor and his chief of staff would also be taking the furlough days.

Despite this new development, the board of trustees and the town are still planning to break ground for the new library this summer.

“We’re still working on the plans,” Anderson said. “We’re hoping to do it right.”