New Details: Reduced Hours Likely For Library

The Seattle Library System is facing a 23% reduction in branch hours under the mayor's 2010 budget proposal.

21 branches (including the Beacon Hill branch) could be closed on Fridays and Sundays to meet the cost cutting goal set by Mayor Nickels.

In response, City Finance Director Dwight Divley says, under the mayor's plan the downtown library and several larger neighborhood branches would remain open longer hours.

"What it does is to have 6 of the branches have extended hours seven days a week," says Dively.

The branches, Downtown, Ballard, Douglass-Truth, Lake City, Rainier Beach and Southwest are spread geographically across the city to ensure equal access to library resources when other branches are closed.

Mayor Nickels asked the library system to submit a plan that would reduce costs in 2010 by more $2.8 million dollars.  The library submitted such a plan and in turn the mayor submitted it as part of his larger budget proposal.

Seattle Library Director, Susan Hildreth says, "Its certainly not to say that we think this is a plan that is going to serve our users well."

Hildreth says circulation is up 20%.

"We have loads of people using computers to find jobs," says Hildreth.  "Also just fun entertainment for families coming.  We're heavily heavily used."

The Beacon Hill branch along with the 20 other branches facing a reduction in hours would likely adopt the same schedule.

Monday and Tuesday 1pm-8pm

Wednesday and Thursday 11am-6pm

Closed on Friday

Saturday open 11am-6pm

Closed on Sunday

The Mayor's proposal also includes a week long closure of the entire library system.  Such a closure was implemented as part of the city's budget cutting earlier this year.

Hildreth say some people are already raising concerns about the possible reduction in hours.  While librarians may be sympathetic to such concerns, the proposed budget is now in the hands of the city council.  The council is holding a series of public hearings over the coming weeks on the budget and inviting the public to share their concerns.

"So I would recommend to those citizens that they get in touch with their city council members," says Hildreth.