HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Mel Lightbody - Proposed New Hours for County Libraries Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Lightbody, Melanie
Sent: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 12:52 PM
To: BOS
Cc: Clerk of the Board; Kim, Sang
Subject: Proposed new hours for County Libraries beginning July 1st.
Attachments: BOS proposed hours memo.docx
Chair Lambert and members of the Board, please find attached staff memo proposing
new library operating hours for the coming fiscal year. This inerno includes a table of
current and proposed hours. As always, thank you for your support and I'm available
to answer any questions. Mel
Mel Lightbody
County Librarian
Butte County Library Administration
1820 Mitchell Avenue
T- 530.538.6296
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Butts County Library Melanie Lightbody, County Librarian
1820 Mitchell Avenue T: 530.538.7525
buttecaunty.netfbclibrary
Oraville, California 95966 F: 530.538.7235
Library Branches
app � Biggs � Chico I Durham � Gridley A Oravtdie �! Paradise
MEMORANDUM
Date Monday, July 16, 2018
To Board of Supervisors
Frorn Mel Lightbody, County Librarian
RE: Proposed Library Operation lours for FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget
During the development of the fiscal year 2018-19 Recommended Budget, the County
Library and County Administration staff worked closely to preserve library services with the
particular focus on maintaining operational hours and avoiding staff layoffs. Through
considerable effort, staff was able to reconfigure schedules and operations in various
branch libraries with only a small loss in operating hours. Moreover, the Library was able to
avoid layoffs of regular staff.
The Recommended Budget does, however, include the reduction of extra help hours,
impacting operational hours in four out of five branch libraries as shown on the proposed
operating hours table on page two. Fortunately, the Library will be able maintain story times
and other popular programs despite the loss of some hours.
The downside of focusing on operational hours and avoiding staff layoffs was the
reductions in services and supplies accounts as well as extra help hours. For example, the
Literacy Services Division will be reducing its early literacy programming provided by the
Literacy Coach (36ft bus) to Butte County families with limited resources by one day per
week (33%). The Literacy Coach served over 4,600 County residents last year. The
Recommended Budget also eliminates several popular databases including the online
automobile manuals and cuts ebolok buying by over 75%. In addition, it reduces buying
popular physical books by half, leaving less than $500 dollars per month amongst all
branches. Only 37%ti of the County library patrons get books from other library branches.
This means 60%p of library users only check out what their branch has on the shelf.
Should the Board choose to augment Library funding, it is my strong recommendation that
any additional funds be dedicated to increasing library materials at all branches rather than
increasing branch library hours.
As always, I am available to answer questions from the board or from the public at any time.
cc: Butte County Library Advisory Board
Friends of the Library
Table of Proposed Branch Operating Hours
Total
Branch Sat Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday IFriday Hours Diff.
Biggs
Proposed 110 to,4prn noon to 6pm 121 0
Current no change No change
I
Chico
Proposed 10 to 5pm 1prn to 5prn 10am i to bpm 10arn to 6pm 10am to 6pm; 10am to 5prn 42 8
Current 9 to 5PM no change 9orn to 7pm gam to 7pm Som to 7pm gam to 5pm
Durham I
Proposed noon to 6pm noon to 6pm 10am to Spm 10am to 5pm 26 4
Current 10am to 4pm No change no change 10am to 4pm 10am to 4pm
Gridley
Proposed 10am to 4pm noon to 6pm noon to 6pm 10am to 4pm 10am to 4pm,l 30 6,
Current no change fpm to 5pm no change no change 10am to 5pm 10om to 5pm
Orovil,le
Proposed 10am to Spm fpm to Sprn 10am to Sprn 10am to 5pm 10am to,Spm 10am to 5pm391 2
1
Current no change no change 10 to 6pm 10am to 6pm no change no change
Paradise
Proposed 10arn to 5pm 10am to 6pm 10am to 6pm 10am to Spm 10am to 5pm 37 4
Current no change 1pm to 5pm no change no change no change no change
1 1
1861 24