Libraries see 24 percent increase in hours: New Year brings expanded access

SANTA CRUZ — After a New Year's break, Santa Cruz Public Libraries reopened Tuesday with expanded hours at all branches except one.

The 10 branches of the city-county system will now be open a total of 318 hours each week, an increase of 24 percent. The change is part of a new service model approved by the library board last spring, one focused on increasing access to the once deficit-plagued $11 million system while directing more funding toward rainy-day savings and improved technology.

The 61 additional hours have been spread among the branches to more proportionally meet demand, Library Director Teresa Landers said. The total hours for the system's second and third busiest branches, Scotts Valley and Aptos, are now equal, as are hours for the three smallest branches. The busiest and largest branch, Central, will continue to have the most hours, at 54 per week. Landers said the Live Oak branch will see no increase because it previously received a greater increase than the Capitola branch, which experiences about the same amount of traffic.

The Capitola branch will see hours increase 36 percent, while La Selva Beach, the system's smallest, will jump in hours almost 50 percent to be on par with the other small branches, Felton and Boulder Creek. They will see hours increase a third.

"The hours are strictly for the public, giving the public more access at more convenient times than what we had previously scheduled," Landers said.

The library system laid off 13 employees in December to make the transition to a new service model. Some of the workers have taken temporary jobs within the system, and one retired rather than be laid off.

After new data on circulation, visitors and staff busyness levels is evaluated in coming months, Landers will report to the board on the impact of the increased hours. Based on the budget, the board will then consider increasing hours 24 percent again in July.

Aptos real estate agent Pete Cullen, the new president of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, said the additional hours should help him reach his goal of doubling the group's membership this year. The organization raises money for library programs, services and equipment.

"If there is better access to branches, that probably will help us raise our visibility," he said. "We'd like to do more outreach at the branches."

On Jan. 9, the board will appoint a new citizen member to replace President Barbara Gorson, whose term expires that day. Dick English of Aptos and Casey Buchter of Soquel are the candidates.

The board will begin its meeting at 7 p.m. after a 6:30 p.m. reception for Gorson, who has served on the board since 2004. The meeting will be in the community room at Central Branch, 224 Church St.

 

AT A GLANCE

All branches of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries except for one saw an increase in weekly hours starting this week. Below is the number of hours increased each week per branch and the new total number of weekly hours:

BRANCH HOURS INCREASED NEW TOTAL HOURS

Central 7 54

Scotts Valley 10 44

Aptos 6 44

Capitola 8 30

Live Oak 0 30

Boulder Creek 7 28

Branciforte 10 28

Felton 5 20

Garfield Park 2 20

La Selva Beach 6 20

For specific hours at each branch, visit www.santacruzpl.org.

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