The Austin Public Library will be getting a new children’s librarian sometime in 2012.

Austin City Council members discussed the librarian vacancy at Monday night’s work session. Although the position is in the budget for 2012, two council members, Marian Clennon and Brian McAlister, voted against filling the position this budget cycle.

Council members voted 4-2 in favor of the hire, and a final vote will take place at the Jan. 3 council meeting.

Ann Hokanson, executive director of the Austin Public Library, said filling the position is imperative to the kind of service the library offers to children.

“We’ve gone without a children’s librarian for almost three years and it shows,” Hokanson said in a memo to the council. “We’ve taken 110 hours a week in staff cuts and freezes since 2002.”

Hokanson stressed the importance of the position being a children’s librarian. Many children don’t have access to computers or books without the library, she said, and she needs another staff member to continue providing good service to children, particularly minority children.

“We really are not going to be able to do the services that we continue to provide,” Hokanson said.

McAlister said he doesn’t feel comfortable filling the position until the 2012 Minnesota legislative session is over, because further cuts could trickle down to the local level.

However, council member-at-large Janet Anderson said it would be irresponsible of the council not to approve filling the vacancy, considering the major need for another staff member.

“It’s pretty phenomenal when you think of what we can do for these kids,” Anderson said.

If the council approves filling the vacancy at the Jan. 3 meeting, the hiring process can begin.

Council members also voted 4-2 in favor of filling a vacancy at the street department. Clennon and McAlister voted no.

The street department vacancy has been filled on a temporary basis, but council members included funds in the budget to hire that employee full-time with benefits, including sick days and holidays. After minimal discussion, council members voted to approve hiring the temporary employee as full-time. The decision will be finalized on Jan. 3, as well.