New Library Hours Go Into Effect Next Week

New hours for the go into effect Monday, Aug. 1. Here, the library will be closed Sundays and Mondays altogether. Hours for other weekdays are:

• Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Library officials said the reduction in hours, which library commissioners voted in favor of late last month, is necessary to close a $1 million operating budget deficit this year.

“The Library is exploring raising revenues, maintaining priority services, and reinstating hours in future years,” said Sandy Cooper, Sonoma County library director who oversees 13 branches. “Because of the grim revenue outlook for the next few years, we plan to systematically measure the public’s priorities for library service and local residents’ interest in supporting new, ongoing revenue sources.”

Cooper said this year cuts to hours outweighed slashing library programs or staff.

Rohnert Park residents, days after commissioners voted in favor of the cuts, said overwhelmingly that the cuts will impact day-to-day life. Many were concerned about how they'd get access to the Internet or study areas for school.

Read more about Rohnert Park's reaction to the reduction to hours .

"Being closed on Mondays will be a hardship particularly for the middle and high school students who come to the library regularly after school. It will also condense the availability of public Internet access computers into fewer hours," said Nancy Kleban, branch manager in Rohnert Park. "People who are only able to come to the library after 6 p.m. will have just one evening a week." 

Last year some 2.6 million people visited Sonoma County libraries and checked out more than three million books, DVDs, audiobooks and other items, library officials reported.