DATE: August 25, 2015
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Kerry Burns, Community Services Director
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Tim Wallace, Community Services Superintendent — Library Services Division Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt Resolution Extending Library Hours of Operation from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. on Fridays
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BACKGROUND:
Prior to the recent economic downturn, the San Bruno Public Library was open 59 hours per week. Due to a significant decline in General Fund revenues in 2010, the Library’s budget for part-time employees was significantly reduced. This resulted in a reduction of 12 hours per week in the operating hours of the Library and reducing hours to 47 hours per week. Since that time the reduced Library operation schedule has not changed and all reductions of operation hours remain in effect. The library schedule changes are shown below:
Day of Week
Previous Schedule
Current Schedule
Proposed Schedule
Monday-Thursday
10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday
Closed
Closed
Closed
DISCUSSION:
The inconsistency in the time of day the Library opens throughout the week continues to cause confusion for Library patrons. Because the Friday opening time is significantly later than any
other day of the week, it is difficult for patrons to remember the exception. Nearly six years after instituting the reduced Friday schedule, staff continues to observe many people approaching the Library on Fridays between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. expecting it to be open. Additionally, the community continues to request the earlier Friday hours be reinstituted; especially seniors and parents with young children.
Based on input received from the community, extending the hours of operation on Friday morning would be the most responsive schedule adjustment. This would also result in the least costly solution to extending operating hours as full-time staff is already available at the Library and only the addition of part-time staff hours would be necessary. By implementing a Friday schedule of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Library would have only two sets of opening hours:
Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Library would remain closed on Sunday. These additional hours would increase the Library’s weekly operating hours from 47 to 50.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is sufficient funding available in the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Operating Budget to provide the necessary ongoing fiscal resources to extend Library hours by three hours weekly which includes the funding of three additional part-time positions; a Librarian I, a Senior Clerk, and a Library Page.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Do not extend Library hours of operation.
2. Extend Library hours of operation by selecting alternate days and times.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution extending Library hours of operation from 47 to 50 hours per week by extending Friday operating hours from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
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Robert Riechel
For San Bruno Patch
Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives
Source Credit: City of San Bruno CA
