MANCHESTER - The Manchester Essex Regional School Committee will consider cutting more than $26,000 from school libraries' budget at its meeting Tuesday, which would eliminate one position and leave a single librarian splitting time between two buildings.

"There's a good chance that it will not happen," said Superintendent Marcia O'Neil, who at this week's committee meeting recommended that the library budget cut be put on hold. O'Neil said her recommendation would not change when the issue is raised at Tuesday's meeting.

If the School Committee approves the move, the librarian at one of the district's two elementary schools would be laid off. High school librarian Susan Hardy would split her week between the high school and the elementary school, leaving an aide at the high school in her absence.

"I'm hoping that the School Committee will be in favor of keeping the libraries staffed properly because students and teachers rely on the library for sources," said high school Assistant Principal Paul Murphy.

Hardy said dismissing an elementary school librarian would not be good for the students.

"Having only a part-time library teacher in each building would mean that there would be less research done, less librarian-teacher collaboration, and a weakening of the library collection and services," Hardy said.

Hardy also said that it would be difficult for one librarian to train and watch over two sets of volunteers and aides.

"As librarians, our role is teaching children how to access information and we can't expect an aide to do that," said Hardy, who argues that one library aide cannot meet the demand of the school's 700-plus students.

Stocking shelves, keeping track of overdue books and other general library maintenance would be some of the responsibilities that Hardy would inherit which she thinks would consume valuable teaching time.

The School Committee will meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the library of Manchester Essex Regional Middl and High School.