Local
Ferguson Library to cut hours Sept. 13
By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$]
Aug 20, 2010 - 10:58 AM

Because of profound city budget cuts, The Ferguson Library will reduce hours at the main library and branches as of September 13. The Library Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to make the cuts in order to close a $1.2 million budget deficit.

“We deeply regret having to reduce public service. It’s a painful decision no library ever wants to make,” said Ferguson Library Board of Trustees Chair George Harvey, “but given the financial realities, we had no choice.”

In addition to reducing hours, the library will lay off ten to twelve full-time employees and a still undetermined number of part-time staff. Management and supervisory staff have taken salary cuts and unpaid furloughs to help make up the deficit.

The library has been working hard to cut expenses and raise money in the face of reduced city support. Last year, the Ferguson raised nearly $750,000 (about ten percent of its budget) from donations, fines, rental income from Starbucks, and passport services. None of these efforts has come close to raising the $1.2 million the library needs to keep operating at current levels. The Ferguson has also requested that the Board of Representatives enact a special ‘library fund’ to close the budget gap. If this is successful, the hours of operation will be restored to the extent of the funding received.

New hours as of Sept. 13:
Main Library
Sunday closed
Monday 10 – 6
Tuesday 12 – 8
Wednesday 10 – 6
Thursday 12 – 8
Friday 10 – 6
Saturday 10 – 5

Harry Bennett Branch
Sunday closed
Monday closed
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 3 – 8
Thursday closed
Friday closed
Saturday 10 – 2

Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch
Sunday closed
Monday 3 – 8
Tuesday closed
Wednesday closed
Thursday closed
Friday closed
Saturday 10 – 2

South End Branch
Sunday closed
Monday closed
Tuesday 10 – 3
Wednesday closed
Thursday 2 – 7
Friday closed
Saturday closed

Bookmobile
Wednesday 9 - 5

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