Budget Proposal Would Open All Public Libraries on Sundays

The newly renovated Whitney M. Young Library branch, 415 E. 79th St., now has a toddler section as well as a music studio, community rooms, parking lot, and an outdoor patio. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
The newly renovated Whitney M. Young Library branch, 415 E. 79th St., now has a toddler section as well as a music studio, community rooms, parking lot, and an outdoor patio. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

Budget Proposal Would Open All Public Libraries on Sundays

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

If Mayor Lori Lightfoot has her way, the City Council will approve her proposed $11.65 billion budget for 2020 that includes funding to open all libraries on Sundays.

Currently, there are four regional libraries, Woodson, 9525 S. Halsted St.; Harold Washington, 400 S. State St; Legler, 115 S. Pulaski Road; and Sulzer, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave.; open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. But the other 77 branches located throughout Chicago neighborhoods are only open Monday through Saturday, said Patrick Molloy, director of government affairs for Chicago Public Library (CPL).

“We are not in a position to open all 77 branches at once and we would need to roll out expanding library hours over time,” Molloy told the Chicago Citizen. “More hiring may be needed to meet this mandate but we will get it done.”

Molloy added that there is a demand for Sunday hours too.

“The Chicago Public Library averages 10 million visitors a year from children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors,” he said. “And while many people see the Internet as a threat to libraries, we have seen a steady growth in visitors. Besides books, we offer computer use for those without one at home, computer training, and some many other resources.”

The current budget for the CPL is $76.1 and the proposed 2020 budget is $84.5 million. But an increase of $5 million for additional personnel would be needed to open all branches on Sundays, according to Molloy, who added the increase would also cover any union, negotiated salaries for staff.

Mayor Lightfoot, whose wife Amy Eshleman is a former assistant library commissioner for the city, said she plans to keep her campaign promise to find a way to open all libraries on Sundays.

“We’re gonna provide more resources so that our libraries can continue to grow,” said Lightfoot. “So that we can expand our hours because it’s important for us to be present and visible for our residents and the libraries are really ground zero for what’s good about Chicago.”

Library Commissioner Andrea Telli was unavailable for comment.

One branch that plans to open on Sundays beginning Dec. 15 is the Whitney M. Young Library branch, 415 E. 79th St., according to Mitchell Smith, branch manager.

“Back in the old days, libraries were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. so there was no need for Sunday hours then,” said Smith. “I can remember when children would come to the library after school and stay here until their parents got off work to pick them up.”

The Whitney Young branch reopened in January after closing to complete a $12 million renovation, which added a music studio, community room, more study rooms, toddler section, parking lot, and an outdoor patio.

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