Good News - NE Library Hours To Remain the Same

The Friends of Seattle Public Library was successful in their efforts to keep many libraries, including the NE Library, with the current operating hours with yesterday's City Council approval of the Friends of the Library "Option C" proposal despite a citywide budget crunch.

"Today, November 12, 2009, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted to increase the General Subfund (GSF) support for library services by $860,000 in 2010. As described in the Seattle City Council’s green sheet Tab 94, Action 1, Option C, Version 1, “[$860,000] would restore 140 of the library operating hours that would be eliminated per the 2010 Proposed Budget.

Increasing GSF support for library services by $860,000 would also allow the Library Board to reinstate some of the 27 staff positions (18.8 FTE [Full Time]) that would be eliminated under the 2010 Proposed Budget,” as posted on the Friends of the Library website yesterday.

The NE Library will remain at the current seven day, 62 hour weekly schedule (along with 9 other city libraries):
• Monday – Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm;
• Friday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm;
• Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm

The University District Library hours have been reduced slightly (along wih 14 other city libraries)
• Open 5 Days per week (35 hours per week, closed Friday and Sunday):
• Monday – Tuesday, 1 pm – 8 pm;
• Wednesday – Thursday, 11 am – 6 pm;
• Friday: CLOSED;
• Saturday 10 am – 6 pm;
• Sunday: CLOSED

Also, in other budget news, the City Council approved yesterday 5-4 the highest proposed Seattle City Light rate hike of 13.8% increase over the next 2 years to help offset the city's budget issues.