After a public hearing today, the Carnegie Library's board of trustees decided to postpone for at least one year the closure of four library branches and the reduction of operating hours.

The board members said they had managed to cover a $1.5 million budget shortfall. Much of the money comes from the voluntary retirement of 10 library employees and public funds such as a 1 percent tax on the revenue from table games at the Rivers Casino.

The board members said they will continue discussing the merger of the Carrick and Knoxville branches, but they deferred the closing of the Beechview, Hazelwood, Lawrenceville and West End branches until at least January 2011. The discusssion over moving the Mount Washington branch also has been deferred.

Operating hours of all of the libraries will not change.

The board members also appointed a subcommittee to look into making its meetings public, after complaints that they conducted their meetings behind closed doors, resulting in the public being caught off-guard by the planned closings.

Facing a budget crisis, the library's board of trustees had voted Oct. 5 to close the Beechview, Hazelwood, Lawrenceville and West End branches, merge the Carrick and Knoxville branches and move the Mount Washington branch from Grandview Avenue to Virginia Avenue.

Community outcry was immediate and loud.

In an effort to keep the branches open, library officials met Nov. 23 with city, Allegheny County and state officials.

City Council unanimously approved the transfer of $600,000 to the library.

In return, library officials said they would recommend that the board of trustees postpone the branch closings.

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