Several thousand dollars will be cut from Flower Memorial Library's capital funding, including money for a new self-checkout machine and security cameras.

Library Board of Trustees President Marcia L. Gray announced at a meeting Tuesday afternoon that more than $39,000 will be cut from the library's capital fund by the city of Watertown because of "budgetary constraints."

Mrs. Gray said the self-checkout machine, cameras and some blinds and window treatments are being given up because they had not already been purchased.

Library Director Barbara J. Wheeler announced in July that the self-checkout machine, which was about $17,000, was needed because of an increasing number of patrons using the library.

She said because the city won't fund another reference desk worker or librarian, the machine was the next best thing so patrons could avoid long lines at the checkout counter.

The security cameras, which were budgeted at about $22,000, were part of the library's second phase of upgrades.

Mrs. Gray said that the security of the library will not be compromised without the cameras, but that they were needed mostly to secure the art collection.

"It's unfortunate that these cuts were necessary," Mrs. Gray said. "We realized that organizations are being cut across the board so we're just going to put these things on hold and possibly pursue other sources of funding."

She said the board is nervous that more cuts will come in next year's budget.

"We all realize that more cuts are probably going to happen," Mrs. Gray said. "We don't know where they will be made or what the full ramifications will be, so we're going to continue to play it safe."