BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa (WENY) -- The Bradford County Library might close at the end of the year because of a proposal that was presented by county commissioners. County commissioners say it's a necessary move for the Bradford County budget, but library employees and patrons are outraged at the decision. 

“We got just under half a million-dollar budget in the Bradford County Library.  It's a big cost to the general fund of the county, has low usage, so we started a discussion of how better to serve the other eight libraries with what we have,” said Doug McLinko, Bradford County commissioner. 

Commissioner McLinko says the plan is to turn the library into a center for veterans and a private internet cafe. He says the rest of the budget would be split between the eight other libraries in Bradford County. Librarians say the library is used frequently, and is a valuable resource to the community. 

“Total circulation for the year was 57,169. Our public computers were used 1,155 times last year,” said Rebecca Troup-Hodgdon, the youth services librarian for the library. 

 In addition to having books and computers, librarians say the space is ADA accessible and a community meeting space. 

"We have a single level library with a large, spacious parking lot, that's level and completely flat. So that is very crucial for anyone who has mobility challenges,” added Troup-Hodgdon. 

 Library staff says support for the library has been overwhelming, both in person and online. There is a petition circulating on behalf of the library staying open, and patrons say they are upset about the potential loss of resources. 

“I don't think they fully understand how much this building and these books, and these people mean to this county.  From the little ones and their reading time all the way up to us old ones that like to sit and chitchat and put some stitches on cloth. I don't know, but I was very angry,” said Mary Martin, a patron of the library. 

There will be a press conference Thursday at 10am at the Bradford County Courthouse about the closing of the library. The meeting is open to the public, but according to commissioners, there will not be opportunity for public comment at that time.