Beginning May 13, Indianapolis public libraries will provide additional hours of service with consistent opening and closing times following action by The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees on March 26, 2012.
The new schedule will restore hours at all libraries rather than just the busiest locations, which originally had been proposed in the Library’s 2012 budget. Total weekly hours of service will increase from 980 to 1,247 with at least six days of service at all locations. Thursday service at Central Library downtown will return as well as Friday and Saturday service at all branches.
In late 2010, as a result of necessary budget cutbacks due to property tax caps and reduced property tax revenues, service hours at Indianapolis public libraries were cut by 26 percent, leaving the 23-branch system with a patchwork schedule and fewer program offerings. Widespread public testimony in support of restoring library hours prompted action by the City-County Council to improve the Library’s funding capacity by transferring most Library debt obligations from its operating fund to its debt service fund. This action, along with a new contribution to the Library of approximately $149,000 in County Option Income Tax funds and additional administrative reductions, will allow the Library to fund the approximate $441,000 needed for the additional service hours in 2012. That includes additional spending on cleaning and security.
“We are indebted to the citizens of Indianapolis who voiced their support for the Library and to our elected officials for responding to their call for improved access and restored programming levels,” stated Jackie Nytes, Library CEO. “This resolution achieves a key goal for those concerned about the future of the library…these additional hours will be sustainable over time.”
Indianapolis libraries will be open Mondays through Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday library service will be available from 12 noon – 5 p.m. at Central Library downtown as well as the Glendale, Lawrence, Nora, Pike, Southport, Warren and Wayne branches.
The only deviations from this schedule involve the InfoZone, the Library branch located within The Children’s Museum, which is open during the regular hours of The Children’s Museum. Central Library will close on Fridays at 5 p.m. The Flanner House Branch, as part of the Flanner House Community Center, will remain closed on Saturdays matching the Center’s hours.
The new schedule represents a net 6 percent reduction in hours compared to pre-2010 levels of service.
