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Seattle Public Library will be closing for a week

August 24th, 2009 · 10 Comments

Seattle Public Libraries will be closing for a week, starting Monday, August 31, through Labor Day, a measure taken to address the $43 million gap in the 2009 city budget.

Now would be the time to stock up on books, CDs, DVDs and other essentials, because no library services will be available during the week hiatus – book drop-offs will be closed, the website and online catalog will be offline, no computers, WIFI services, programs or book clubs will be running. No materials will be due during this week and no fines will be accrued. For seven days, it will be as if the library doesn’t exist.

The week-long closure will save approximately $655,000, over half of the 2 percent budget reduction ( nearly $1 million) taken this year. This closure will also cut salaries for about 700 employees who will not be paid or accrue vacation or retirement benefits during the week. In addition, another $350,000 in cuts will take place in the form of management and administration layoffs, reduction in the training budget and an extending of the staff computer replacement schedule.

The last day to check out books will be Sunday, August 30. The library will reopen with full service Tuesday, September 8. For more information, see the Seattle Pubic Library website.



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