The 2010 budget for The Seattle Public Library is $51 million.
On Sept. 25, 2009, then-Mayor Greg Nickels announced his proposed 2010 budget, which included cuts to many city departments due to the continued economic downturn. The Library was asked to identify approximately $2.6 million in cuts.
On Nov. 23, 2009, the City Council added $860,000 back to the Library budget when it passed the city budget. While the restoration of some funds was good news, the Library's 2010 budget still was cut by $1.77 million.
That means the Library must reduce hours overall, close the entire system for one week and sustain more than $500,000 in cuts taken in 2009.
New operating hours
start Wednesday, Feb. 3.
All locations of the Library will close Monday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 5. Libraries will be closed Monday, Sept. 6 for Labor Day and will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 7.
The Library's capital budget for major maintenance also was cut by 37 percent.
See also