Library changes Sunday hours

Faced with reductions in staffing levels and income, the Heights Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to operate throughout 2010 on a “summer hours” schedule, which means only the Lee Road Library will be open Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. This change will cut costs and reallocate resources, while keeping overall library operating hours at the same level of 72.5 hours per week.

“We are grateful to have such understanding customers. Please know that this was not an easy decision,” said Director Nancy Levin. “We realize that many people use our buildings on Sundays and that they often do not have transportation to other locations. We have already trimmed the budget in so many places that we were left with few options.”

“Library material circulation is up 15 percent in 2009, but our 2010 revenue will be $1 million less than in 2008. We have cut staff, salaries, benefits, supplies, services and programming,” Levin said while stressing that the library is adding as many features as it can to help the community through these difficult times.

One of these services will be the new Computer Gallery (in the former Heights Arts space), which will open after Martin Luther King Day and offer an expanded PC and MAC lab, as well as a showcase for local artists. The Lee Road Library will also open a new dedicated classroom available during library hours and will feature Smart Board technology and conference space. Both will be housed in the west building of the Lee Road Library.

“Ultimately we will still be open for business 72.5 hours a week in 2010,” Levin said. “We will now be able to stop cutting programming, hopefully expand our computer class selections and be better able to handle the increased circulation and reference calls."

New Library Hours

After Jan. 1, 2010 the new hours will be:

Lee Road Library (unchanged)

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday -Friday

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday

Coventry Village Library, University Heights Library and Noble Neighborhood Library

1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday