Local libraries recieve cuts, students, programs suffer

By Brigid McGuire
Online Forty-Niner
Calendar Editor

Beginning Oct. 1 the Main and North Long Beach Public Libraries will be closed Mondays and reduce their regular weekly hours as a result of the new city budget cuts. The Main Library located on 101 Pacific Avenue will be cut the most — with a loss of 12 hours a week.

The cuts may affect students who may not have the transportation resources to come to the University Library or the Horn Center.

According to Long Beach’s 2006 budget, $400,000 will be cut from library funding, adding to over $1 million in cuts since 2003.

There has been a 20 percent reduction in hours of service and a 26 percent reduction in the book budget due to the Three-Year Financial Plan.

Long Beach Libraries are already open 38 percent less than other neighboring Los Angeles and Orange County libraries.

A statement released from Eleanor Schmidt, director of Library Services for the City of Long Beach, said, “We are committed to continuing to provide the members of our community with excellent service even with reduced hours.”

She also said they will continue to run programs such as literacy programs for children, families and adults, homework assistance and Family Learning Centers.

Even with cut hours, the city plans on building two new libraries—the first new libraries built in Long Beach since the 1970s—to replace the Mark Twain and North libraries.

Other reductions include the elimination of wireless Internet networks and three librarians, which will result in a cut in educational programming and after school book clubs.

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