Opelousas Library Gets Small Boost To Budget

OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) — The president of the Opelousas Public Library says the facility is functioning on "the edge of poverty," despite an additional $12,000 added to its operating budget by the Board of Aldermen.

Estelle Perrault, who also serves as president for the Eunice Public Library, said the additional money approved Tuesday for the Opelousas library will probably raise wages for most of the workers there to about $7.50 an hour.

She tells The Advocate nearly all of the 13 employees at the Opelousas branch have earned the hourly $7.25 minimum wage for the past several years.

Perrault says the library needs to have 21 workers to efficiently provide services, but there isn't enough money in the budget to increase the staff.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com