L.A. County libraries to cut service starting Monday [Updated]

Just days after two-day-a-week closures took effect at Los Angeles city libraries, dozens of L.A. County libraries will close their doors several times a week in response to cuts in funding.

Starting Monday, 45 of the 89 Los Angeles County public libraries will begin reduced hours, with many branches closed Sunday, Monday and Friday.

The cutbacks are the result of budget reductions and decreased revenues, library officials said in a statement.

The move by the county library system comes just a few days after the city of Los Angeles closed its 73 libraries on Sundays and Mondays to save money, sparking protests at some branches.

Check here for the new county library hours.

[Updated at 9:49 a.m.: The cuts will likely put additional strains on library branches that have already seen increased demand as research spots for job seekers, entertainment sources for families and study spaces for students during the sour economy.

The county library system has been asked to make $8.8 million in cuts because of declining tax revenues, said Pamela Broussard, spokeswoman for the County of Los Angeles Public Library. By reducing maintenance costs and hours for library employees, the closures are expected to save $3 million.

“It’s going to be a tough year for us,” Broussard said.]

-- Tony Barboza

Comments

[h.v.obiedo]

The morons always cut the services that hurt;why dont they cut the feather merchants that work for the city.perhaps they could cut the police department or fire department.The city just will not tangle with the unions.