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Contact: Derek Wolfgram, Deputy County Librarian
Phone: (408) 293-2326, ext. 3002
Email: derek.wolfgram@library.sccgov.org

Saratoga Library maintains seven-day service

Beginning June 28, Saratoga Library will be open 10% fewer hours per week as a result of declining revenues. However, in order to continue to deliver the best possible service to residents even with reduced resources, the Library plans to maintain a seven-day per week schedule by closing at 6:00 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, instead of the current 9:00 pm closing time. Evening hours are planned to still be available on Mondays and Tuesdays, when the Library will remain open until 9:00.

From 2005 through 2007, the Library was closed on Mondays. From January 2008 through June 2010, the Saratoga Friends of the Library supported staff positions to extend the Library’s hours, at a cost of $162,000 per year. During construction of the Saratoga Library, the Friends had built up significant reserves. They continued to generate revenue through the Book-Go-Round used bookstore in downtown Saratoga, but they were not funding collections, programs or improvements while the Library was located in a temporary facility.

“We are extremely grateful for the incredible support the Friends put forward for the last two and a half years,” said Derek Wolfgram, Deputy County Librarian for Santa Clara County Library. “While they are no longer able to sustain funding for staff positions, the Library wanted to continue to support as many service hours as possible with the available funds.”

Library staff examined hour by hour usage data and conducted surveys of both Library users and those without library cards. Members of the community stated a strong preference for Monday service hours, second only to Saturdays, and usage data showed that Monday is the busiest weekday for checkouts per hour. By reducing Wednesday and Thursday evenings, which are historically some of the slowest hours of service, the Library makes more efficient use of its limited staff by only being open for a single work shift each day.

Library staff will be reduced by 10%, including one full-time and two half-time positions, as well as a reduction in extra help workers. No layoffs are necessary, because of a pending retirement and placement of staff into other Santa Clara County Library locations. The new hours schedule will be considered by the Library Joint Powers Authority board at their June meeting. “While reducing hours is a challenge, we’re excited to be able to maintain a balance of morning, after school, evening and weekend hours to serve all of the segments of our community,” said Gayathri Kanth, Acting Community Librarian.

New Saratoga Library Hours, effective June 28, 2010:
Monday -Tuesday 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Wednesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

For additional information about the Saratoga Library, please visit www.santaclaracountylib.org.

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