Hypothetical question for those who use the library a lot.

[disykat]

I would have no problem with one day closed or slightly shortened hours. We already have those things. I would, however, be upset about drastic cuts in library services or a community choosing to close libraries over do necessary repairs and/or updates.

My community is in the middle of a drive to fund much needed library updates. We are asking for maybe $30 a year from the average middle income homeowner. It's going to be a tough battle. I have served with the committee and am spending several hours this weekend on the cause.

As a child, I lived in a community that lost it's library funding. They went from being open every day, to being open 4 hours twice a week with volunteers, to shutting their door altogether. Honestly? While obviously life went on, it was kind of devastating for the community - because of that they do finally have one up and running.

As a child, I loved the library. As a young adult when I moved to a new community the library was my connection - both to the new area and to my home. When I vacation, I travel without a computer and often use libraries wherever I am to check my email. I've visited many. When my family was looking at moving, I checked out schools and other services in the towns we were considering - for me an important one was the library.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would rather pay a little more in taxes and have the library remain open 7 days a week.
Ours closes early on Friday and it drives me nuts LOL.... we spend at least 3 days a week at the library for one thing or another. Ours is open
Mon- 9-9
Tues- 9-9
Wed- 9-9
Thurs 9-9
Fri -9-5
Sat 10-5
Sun. 12-5

 

[mrsklamc]

Before the economy crashed there was a huge renovation of the downtown library and mismanagement of funds resulting in lawsuits. That's the sad part, to me. If it hadn't been for the fraud or whatever happened there, I have to wonder if this could have been avoided.

 

[mistysue]

Can people really not get by with preschool book reading not happening ONE day a week? Seriously? Can the parents not read? Six days per week is not enough of group book listening? If it is that big of a deal, look for book shops or another library for that one day.

I think between the options of closing libraries or closing one day, closing one day is much better.
I understand the situation is different in different communities, but there are few people who have a true need for the most convenient library 7 days/week. We love going to our library, but when they are closed we can drive 10-15 minutes to go to another one.

I would like to second that if you NEED a book for a school project, going the last day is a little risky and maybe the kids needs to deal with those consequences because there was no guarantee your library would have the book there anyways.

 

[Gina]

I have never understood libraries being closed on weekends at ALL. Seriously, be closed every week day or nearly every week day, and use the money to stay open evenings and weekends when people can actually GO to the library!! Who on earth is in a library in the middle of a weekday??

 

[amylynne01]

I have never understood libraries being closed on weekends at ALL. Seriously, be closed every week day or nearly every week day, and use the money to stay open evenings and weekends when people can actually GO to the library!! Who on earth is in a library in the middle of a weekday??

Me!

The library in my town is only open weekday afternoon/evenings and Saturdays. Because their budget is so tight, they decided to be open when most adults and schoolchildren would be available. I don't use this library because I bring my kids to the library in the mornings (DH works nights, so afternoons are spent at home for naps and with Daddy). So we travel 15 minutes to the next town over for another library that is closed every Sunday and Monday. It is actually a pretty bustling library even during the week.

I don't expect them to be open every day all day. I plan accordingly knowing what their schedule is. Maybe my thought will change once my kids are older and in school. OP, I'm glad they were able to figure out a solution instead of closing libraries. That would've been worse than staggering the closed days!

 

[bettymae1121]

I'd much rather they be closed one day per week than to close branches, reduce services, etc. I do think they should try to avoid being closed on a weekend day though, as that's when many people are able to go due to work and school (at least that's when every library I've ever been to is most crowded, anyway).

 

[jspoole]

All I have to say is is that the library is the only place that the tax paying citizens can actually go and get something useful for free. Movie rentals, books, iternet, read magazines, newspapers, computer classes, story time, crafting classes etc. Thats why you are seeing our libraries being hit with the reduced hours and positions being cut. You dont see peoples food stamps being cut. The free cell phones that being handed out, you dont see the free minutes being cut on those. But those are the types of things that a actually working person are not entitled to. But the library is for everyone.

I think that it is wonderful for you all that doesnt go to the library because you would just rather buy all your reading materials at the book store. There is alot of people that would rather borrow the book for free and read it and save the money for something that you get more than one use out of.

 

[clh2]

MIxed feelings on this question.

Last year, DD was in so many activities, and I always hung out in the library (logistically, it just didn't make sense to go home.) I would have DIED without the library being open T, W or TH nights.

This year - she is driving, so I wouldn't be as bothered.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'm not saying at all that the library isn't wonderful. We use it tons and donate above and beyond our tax $. But times are hard everywhere and this seems minor in the list of possibilities. How would our generation cope with WWII style rationing, for heaven's sake?

 

[jodifla]

In a neighboring community, they refused to fund the library in the last election, so it's slated to CLOSE COMPLETELY next year. This is a very upscale community and the residents will soon have NO library access, all because a small radical "no taxes" group took control of the election and voted down the proper funding. Good luck selling your homes, idiots, with no library access!

Luckily, in my community, we voted FOR the library. We have fabulous libraries, with great hours, open EVERY day. They are constantly full, and have wonderful amenities.

I'm glad the library is open every day. We are there several times a week.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Our library is closed on Sunday and Monday and it's OK by me. If they were closed on Saturday and Sunday, I'd be less amused.

 

[delmar411]

I've only heard good things about the library finding the solution to not close down those branches. It wasn't fair that just certain communities would lose their local library access due to being x number of miles closer to another branch and this is a very equitable solution.

 

[mrsklamc]

I've only heard good things about the library finding the solution to not close down those branches. It wasn't fair that just certain communities would lose their local library access due to being x number of miles closer to another branch and this is a very equitable solution.

I should clarify.. Real people, I've only heard good things for. The HOA thing was a Star article and I really wondered why it was article- worthy.

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

In a neighboring community, they refused to fund the library in the last election, so it's slated to CLOSE COMPLETELY next year. This is a very upscale community and the residents will soon have NO library access, all because a small radical "no taxes" group took control of the election and voted down the proper funding. Good luck selling your homes, idiots, with no library access!

Luckily, in my community, we voted FOR the library. We have fabulous libraries, with great hours, open EVERY day. They are constantly full, and have wonderful amenities.

I'm glad the library is open every day. We are there several times a week.

Wow, those people are so short sighted. I love our library and donate books and now will donate my time in order to keep it active. The problem with the budget shortfalls is that when I lived in Broward County FL, they cut back on the libraries with closings and shortened hours. When I would walk into the library, every single computer was taken, and tables occupied with people doing homework. The library is not just a place for books, it's part of the community, where people of all ages can come and utilize materials in order to better themselves with their education.

The closings affected alot of people since many in our area used public transit to get to the libraries and now had to really adjust their routes according to the nearest library hours.

I believe libraries are precious commodities and should be protected and funded properly...

 

[Mathfailure]

I am a huge supporter, and go several times a week.

When we move, the first week we open new banking and I get a card.

If I had control over where we move, and not relocated in our jobs as we are now, the library would be a must on my list.

If anyone lives in a town with a college/universtiy you often can get a card with them to check out books. A real plus is that their hours are long, and all weekends.

 

[littlezar]

Growing up we had a small library that was always closed on Sundays and only open half days on Saturday. (WAY before the internet so we actually had to use encyclopedias for reports, LOL!!)

The first place we lived after getting married had the library open on Sunday afternoons and I was amazed by it. I didn't know that was possible! Kinda thought it was like the post office! Every place we've lived since then, we've had Sunday access to a library (or libraries)

Currently, we have a central library and 9 branch libraries - one is a youth library, one is a law library. Cuts were made in the past year and only the central library and 2 branches have Sunday hours of 1-5 from Labor Day to Memorial Day. I am happy they didn't cut the Teen Group as my oldest really enjoys that. He has even started volunteering every Friday after school for a couple of hours.

As far as computer access in libraries, I can see where it could be a need for some people, but usually I see people on facebook or playing games.

 

[MrsPete]

It is a big inconvenience to go to another branch or wait a day. With both parents working and with kids, often we need to go to the library on a specific day (a book is due or needed for school report, reference materials needed, etc.) and we can't wait until the next day. It would be a major inconvenience and almost infeasible to drive over to the next town to use their library.

Also, our library is used daily for all kinds of group activities from children's story times to a world religions study class for adults. Every time I go in there, there are people who do not have computers at home using the computers there to do things online. There are lots of people who cannot afford computers and/or internet service at home who rely on their local libraries.

I am at the library right now. Here's what's been going on:
1) I am waiting for my son to finish a chess lesson. He'll then participate in a chess club happening this morning which a some kids and a bunch of retired people enjoy.
2) An older man just came in to use the computers to check his email because his computer is not working.
3) A family with 3 kids of all ages just came in with all of their children to check out books and some dvd's for weekend entertainment.

The rest of the people in here are doing all kinds of things. Someone is sending a fax, another person was making a photocopy, etc.

Lots of stuff goes on in your local library that you may be unaware of. Many people depend on the free services there that they cannot afford to provide for themselves. So, yes I think it would be a big deal if they closed our library one day a week.

I totally agree that when you want to do these things, you want to do them now!

However, the question isn't, "Do you want the library to be available for fewer hours each week?"

It's really, "We only have X amount of money and something has to go. If it's not going to be the library, then what will it be? School services? Police? Road construction? The Health Department?" Realistically, people count on all of these things. No one wants to cut them, but if it comes down to cutting library services or ambulance service, which will it be?

All I have to say is is that the library is the only place that the tax paying citizens can actually go and get something useful for free.

I hear your love of the library loud and clear, but your statement really isn't true. Tax-paying citizens get useful and free services from the public school system (even if you don't have children, your future banker, doctor, secretary, whatever is being taught to read there right now), the parks and recreation service, and the road system. The health department provides shots for kids for free, regardless of whether their parents are employed. The military, the police, and the firemen are keeping us safe; true, that doesn't seem like a service where we "get something", but if those people were gone, we'd see the difference! My elderly grandmother (who was a taxpayer for many, many years) qualifies for free bus transportation because she can no longer drive, and she can get free lunch at the senior center every weekday just because of her age.

Libraries are a wonderful font of information and services, but they are certainly not the only place a tax-paying citizen can receive something for free!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

The first place we lived after getting married had the library open on Sunday afternoons and I was amazed by it. I didn't know that was possible! Kinda thought it was like the post office!.

I never realized until reading this thread libraries were open on Sunday- All my life the local libraries (in 2 states and 3 cities) have been closed on Sunday.

I love the library here and go usually once a week

-em

 

[NotUrsula]

It's really, "We only have X amount of money and something has to go. If it's not going to be the library, then what will it be? School services? Police? Road construction? The Health Department?" Realistically, people count on all of these things. No one wants to cut them, but if it comes down to cutting library services or ambulance service, which will it be?

Just FYI, usually this kind of choice is not an issue because of the way that those various services are funded via taxes nowadays. The millages are dedicated for certain uses, and most local jurisdictions are forbidden by law from mixing the monies.

I remember nearly 30 years ago helping to pass a separate library millage in a large community that up until that point had funded police and fire departments out of the same tax fund as the library system, and naturally, every time that the police dept. or fire dept. wanted money, the library lost the funds. We got the separate millage passed for the library, and it no longer had to share with the police and the fire depts. As I recall, it was a rare situation even then to have had those funds in the same budget section; very few places now fund those depts from the same source. Public safety services normally have completely dedicated tax levies for each department so as to prevent favoritism causing funding problems for them.

When a public library district runs short of funds and has to consider closures, it is normally not because another dept. needs the money more and is going to be given that money by the city or county -- it is because operating costs have increased and/or revenue has decreased in such a way that cuts within the library system have to be made in order to balance the budget. Some reasons for this are decreases in property and/or sales tax revenues, increases in health insurance and other insurance or staff benefit costs, increases in utility costs, increases in resource costs, etc.