Dothan, Ala. (WDNews) — The Dothan Houston County Library System is cutting operating hours at two locations following a loss in revenue tied to passport services and ongoing funding challenges.
During a called meeting on April 27, the library’s board of trustees approved reduced hours for the Main Library and the Westgate Branch. The changes will take effect Monday, May 11.
Under the new schedule, the Main Library will operate Monday through Friday, while the Westgate Branch will be open Tuesday through Saturday. Both locations are currently open Monday through Saturday.
Officials say the decision follows the loss of about $99,000 in annual revenue after the U.S. State Department directed the system to stop processing passports earlier this year. The move is tied to the department’s interpretation of the 1920 Passport Act, which excludes nonprofit public libraries from serving as passport processing facilities.
The financial strain is compounded by limited local funding. According to the data presented, public libraries in Alabama’s ten largest cities receive an average of $35.97 per capita in local funding, while the statewide average is $27.31. DHCLS receives $11.34 per capita.
“The loss of this service is significant, as both a resource for our community and a revenue source for our library,” said DHCLS Director Chris Warren. “Programs like story time, summer reading, and STEM activities for tweens and teens were possible because of the revenue we generated through passports. With such limited local funding, we have to make difficult decisions to reduce expenditures so we can continue offering these services, even if it means fewer public hours.”
The revised hours for the Main Library will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Westgate Branch will operate Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Library leaders say the updated schedule is based on usage trends, including circulation, computer use, and daily visitor counts. The changes are part of a broader plan to reduce costs, including leaving some positions unfilled.
The library system, established in 1949, serves about 109,000 residents. In fiscal year 2025, it recorded more than 280,000 visits and hosted hundreds of programs for children, teens, and adults.
