The U.S. Postal Service is wrapping up meetings this summer with customers on reduced hours at its community post offices.

By this fall, about 13,000 post offices nationwide, including 49 in Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties, will have had their hours reduced to either two, four or six hours daily, but they will remain open.

“There’s a lot of meetings coming up,” said Maureen P. Marion, public affairs specialist for the Postal Service’s Albany district. “Some of them have already transitioned.”

In some cases — 600 across the country — some postal services such as stamp or other mailing supply purchases will be available in other locations, such as gas stations or stores, in addition to traditional post offices.

“We want to be sure every option is out there,” Ms. Marion said.

All mail will be handled by postal employees.

The reduction in hours as opposed to the wholesale closure of many post offices, particularly in rural locations where the use is not as heavy as in cities, is a less aggressive way of cutting Postal Service costs.

U.S. Postal Service wrapping up meetings on reduced hours