CHARLOTTE – Charlotte officials said budget cuts will definitely come next year to the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, but the library officials don’t know how deep the cuts will go.

Library Director Charles Brown submitted four different budget requests to Mecklenburg County leaders. In the best-case scenario, the library would just order fewer books.

But in the worst-case scenario, they would see roughly 150 layoffs and shorter hours at the county’s 24 area libraries. It would slash about $7 million and affect more than a quarter of the library’s workforce.

“We’d be looking initially at a loss of 150 positions, or a little over 150 positions, a two thirds reduction in book or collection budget, and significant reduction of hours across the board,” Brown said. “That would mean no Sunday service at all. None of our libraries would be open on Sunday at all in Mecklenburg County, and then our smaller community and neighborhood libraries would be open only days a week.”

Library leaders said the cuts, no matter how severe, couldn’t come at a worse time.

“The library is booming, not only from a standpoint of books and other library materials, but also the library plays a great role in workforce development,” Brown said.

County leaders are now reviewing the library’s budget ideas. Manager Harry Jones will unveil the full proposed budget in May.