Arizona: Budget and Staffing Issues Force Pima County Public Library to End Sunday Hours at Eight Branches

From the PCPL Web Site:

Executive Director Melinda Cervantes said that the decision to reduce the hours of operation was very difficult, but the change was necessary to address understaffing the department has faced for the past few years that has led to reductions in services.
“In addition to less revenue coming in and increased operating costs, we don’t have enough staff to maintain daily operations at every library in our system,” said Cervantes. “Our goal is to deliver high-quality customer service every hour that we are open, which is difficult when libraries do not have enough staff. We have already had to reduce the number of Storytimes, community events, and other literacy programs due to budget constraints.”
The libraries that will close on Sundays were selected after analyzing usage, location, and operational costs. Staff members who work Sundays at the eight designated libraries will be reassigned to other libraries in the system.
“The Library has already identified numerous operating efficiencies to cut costs, including reducing outreach activities and partnerships, reassigning staff that specialized in literacy outreach to work in libraries, and delaying facility maintenance and technology projects,” Cervantes explained. “We’re saving another $171,000 with this change to our Sunday hours.”

Branches Ending Sunday Hours (Effective May 24)

• Dusenberry-River Library
• Flowing Wells Library
• Himmel Park Library
• Kirk-Bear Canyon Library
• Martha Cooper Library
• Quincie Douglas Library
• Sam Lena-South Tucson Library
• Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library

10 PCPL branches will continue to provide Sunday hours.
See Also:  Pima County Public Library (Tucson Area) Considers Closing 4 Libraries to Help Reduce Budget Deficit (April , 2015)

Filed under: Libraries, Public Libraries