Utica Public Library Changes Hours Of Operation
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: December 26, 2012
The Utica Public Library is changing its hours for the new year, and the
staff is not happy about it. For the last 2 years, the library has
received additional funding through a grant to provide training, buy
equipment and increase library hours,but this grant has ended.
The Utica Common Council eliminated city funding of the library in it's most recent budget. The library director says this funding reduction has made it impossible to maintain current library hours.
"I feel terrible. And I'm gonna do everything that I can. And I know the board agrees with this, that we're going to see if this can be reversed in the near future. Our next fiscal year starts April 1st, so I'm hoping that this will be a temporary move," says Darby O'Brien, director at Utica Public Library.
O'Brien says the library has lost over $600,000 dollars in total local funding since 2008.
New hours will be Monday and Tuesday, 8:30am- 8:00pm; Wednesday to Friday, 8:30am- 5:30pm; Saturday, 8:30am- 5:00pm.
The Utica Common Council eliminated city funding of the library in it's most recent budget. The library director says this funding reduction has made it impossible to maintain current library hours.
"I feel terrible. And I'm gonna do everything that I can. And I know the board agrees with this, that we're going to see if this can be reversed in the near future. Our next fiscal year starts April 1st, so I'm hoping that this will be a temporary move," says Darby O'Brien, director at Utica Public Library.
O'Brien says the library has lost over $600,000 dollars in total local funding since 2008.
New hours will be Monday and Tuesday, 8:30am- 8:00pm; Wednesday to Friday, 8:30am- 5:30pm; Saturday, 8:30am- 5:00pm.
