News Summary
Significant budget cuts in San Diego are leading to reduced hours at public library branches, impacting community services. Starting September 15, 2023, 20 of 37 branches will close on Mondays, affecting access to programs. The Friends of the Library and community advocates express concern over these changes, calling for action to prevent funding cuts and support essential library services.
San Diego is facing significant changes to its public library system as budget cuts approved by the mayor and City Council threaten operations in the city’s 37 neighborhood branches. Starting September 15, 2023, Monday hours will be eliminated at 20 branches, meaning only 17 branches will remain open to the public on that day. This is part of a broader effort to address a budget deficit exceeding $300 million and is expected to lead to considerable operational disruptions.
The budget cuts follow the elimination of Sunday hours at 14 branches, effective July 1, 2023, as the city attempts to conserve resources. The reductions in library hours are projected to save approximately $5.1 million in the current fiscal year and roughly $7 million in a full fiscal year. These changes are part of an approximate $100 million budget cut for the current year.
Efforts to close the budget deficit involve about $150 million in new revenues generated from parking fees and other charges, along with $64 million from canceled reserve contributions. As part of these budgetary adjustments, library staff work schedules are undergoing significant changes due to labor union rules, leading to many staff being relocated to branches where Monday hours will remain available.
This staff reshuffling, referred to as “the Great Reshuffling,” has created considerable disruption for employees, particularly those with less seniority. Although the reshuffling of full-time staff is nearing completion, changes for part-time staff are still ongoing and expected to continue until the upcoming Tuesday.
Of the 17 branches that will still offer Monday services, they include popular locations such as Allied Gardens, downtown, Carmel Valley, Logan Heights, Oak Park, City Heights, Rolando, Linda Vista, Mira Mesa, Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, San Ysidro, Skyline Hills, Valencia Park, North Park, and University Heights. The decision to maintain Monday hours at specific branches was influenced by factors such as neighborhood income levels and the availability of after-school tutoring programs.
The La Jolla branch will continue its Monday operations thanks to support from its separate nonprofit foundation. However, the reduction in operational hours is expected to impact various library activities including author talks and youth storytelling sessions, limiting access to these valuable community programs.
The president of the Friends of the San Diego Public Library has expressed concerns regarding the abruptness of the changes, labeling them as disappointing and disruptive for community members and staff alike. Meanwhile, the Municipal Employees Association acknowledged that the outcome of the current budget situation is preferable to an earlier proposal that would have resulted in full closures of all branches on Sundays and Mondays, along with substantial layoffs.
As the library system services over 1.4 million residents, the proposed cuts threaten critical local programs such as adult literacy initiatives and entrepreneurship workshops, which heavily rely on government funding. The municipal library budget is primarily derived from an allocation of approximately $77 million from the city, with smaller portions allocated for books and various programs.
Mayor Todd Gloria is expected to present a draft budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that includes continued cuts to library funding, alongside increased financial support for police and fire departments. This proposed budget outlines total reductions amounting to $175.9 million across all city departments. With these financial adjustments, the library system’s operational hours will continue to be heavily affected, decreasing community access and available resources.
In light of these changes, community advocates are encouraged to reach out to congressional representatives to help prevent proposed federal funding cuts for local libraries, ensuring essential services and programs remain accessible to the public.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Library Cuts and Reshuffling
- Axios: Federal Budget Cuts Impacting Libraries
- San Diego Union-Tribune: La Jolla Library Support
- Wikipedia: Public Library
- NBC San Diego: Community Response to Library Cuts
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
