Sonia Rodriguez frequently uses Ferguson Library's South End Branch in Stamford as an educational resource with her prekindergartner Hallie. It's helping the youngster learn to read as well as operate a computer. But budget cuts have meant the library's closure was a real possibility.
"I don't know what I'd do if they closed it," Rodriguez said recently.
She no longer has to worry. The library has made a final decision on fall hours for its main and branch facilities, and all will remain open. There'll be cuts, but nothing like the draconian reductions announced last month that would have left each of the branches operating only two days per week and the Main Library closed on the heavily used Sundays. The reductions were proposed to address a $1.2 million operating budget deficit.
The library's Board of Trustees sought several options. Union concessions, management pay cuts, Sunday-hour business sponsorships and a reduction in the library's materials budget have helped lower the deficit by $800,000.
"We are tremendously grateful to the staff for agreeing to these substantial concessions," board Chair Kathryn Emmett said in a statement.
The remaining $400,000 shortfall will be addressed through a total 21½-hour service reduction, effective Oct. 4.
New fall hours at the Main Library will be 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
Harry Bennett Branch hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch will operate 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
South End Branch's new hours will be 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The Bookmobile will operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays.
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