On Nov. 12, 2009, the City Council Budget Committee unanimously voted to add $860,000 to The Seattle Public Library's 2010 budget to restore some branch hours. The additional money means the Library will be able to provide seven-day-a-week service at 11 branches and the Central Library in 2010.

11 branches will operate 60 hours a week:

• Ballard Branch
• Beacon Hill Branch
• Broadview Branch
• Capitol Hill Branch
• Douglass-Truth Branch
• Greenwood Branch
• Lake City Branch
• Northeast Branch
• Rainier Beach Branch
• Southwest Branch
• West Seattle Branch
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Hours will be:
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Hours at the Central Library will not change.

15 branches will operate five days a week for 35 hours:

• Columbia Branch
• Delridge Branch
• Fremont Branch
• Green Lake Branch
• High Point Branch
• International District/Chinatown Branch
• Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch
• Magnolia Branch
• Montlake Branch
• NewHolly Branch
• Northgate Branch
• Queen Anne Branch
• South Park Branch
• University Branch
• Wallingford Branch
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Hours will be:
1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday
CLOSED FRIDAY
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
CLOSED SUNDAY

On Sept. 25, 2009, Mayor Greg Nickels announced his proposed 2010 budget, which included cuts to address a projected $72 million revenue shortfall in the city's 2009 - 2010 biennial budget. The Library was asked to identify approximately 5 percent in cuts - about $2.6 million.

While the restoration of some funds is good news, the Library's 2010 budget still will be cut by $1.77 million. That means the Library still needs to close the entire system for one week subject to continued negotiations with the union and sustain more than $500,000 in cuts taken in 2009.

The Library also is still expected to take a 37 percent reduction in the proposed 2010 capital budget.

The full City Council is scheduled to adopt the 2010 city budget Monday, Nov. 23. The Library Board will approve the Library's 2010 Operation Plan Wednesday, Dec. 16.

The Library expects to start the new operating schedule in February 2010.

See also

• Proposed capital budget reductions
• More about the proposed 2010 Library budget
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The Seattle Public Library, along with all city departments, was asked to identify potential 2009 general fund reductions of up to 3 percent in light of the nationwide recession and a sharp drop in city revenues. On May 8, 2009, Mayor Greg Nickels finalized plans to cut about $13.3 million from the city's 2009 general fund budget.

• Executive salary reductions
• Capital budget reductions
• Operational budget reductions
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