Public libraries close Mondays due to budget constraints

Chicago Public Libraries will re-open Monday afternoons starting Feb. 6, Mayor Emanuel announced last week. The city is re-allocating $2 million in resources to keep branch locations open six days a week.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Public Library system was forced to close all but three branches on Mondays, eliminating 172 employees and reducing business hours to 40 per week as a result of a budgeting stalemate between the city and the union representing library workers.

"The mayor is taking a half-step in the right direction," said Anders Lindall, spokesperson for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, which represents the library employees. "But our union and all the people in the city want him to come all the way and fully restore library hours and employment."

The change will restore 65 employees to open libraries for four hours on Mondays when Chicago Public Schools are in session. Libraries will be open for eight hours on Mondays when school is out of session.

"We made a commitment to children and residents that libraries would be open six days a week, and we are delivering on that commitment without any cooperation from union leadership," Mayor Emanuel said in a press release.

The mayor is accusing the union of using the issue as a "bargaining chip" for other concessions. Emanuel had originally asked for two half-day closings for libraries each week.

"To lose a whole day is pretty dramatic," said Molly Raphael, president of the American Library Association, a trade company based in Chicago. "It has a huge impact on individuals."

Raphael points to after-school programs for kids and free Internet access to the public.

"Monday is a day children are likely to have homework," Raphael said. "And low-income families find refuge with the services."

Raphael also said that libraries have become a hot spot for people to perform their job search, offering the Internet for online applications, and hold seminars to help people get employed. Raphael said that libraries all over the country are subject to cuts.

"Nationally, 65 percent [of people] say their only source to the Internet is at the library," Raphael said. "What if Monday is the only day you can go?"

According to Raphael, library use has been increasing, while 60 percent of libraries reported a decreasing or flat budget in 2011.

"I check books out from the library at least on a weekly basis," said junior Derek Bishe, 20. In a big city, there are also concerns over crowded libraries with shortened hours.

"The circulation desk always has a line when I'm there," said Bishe. "I can't imagine that's going to get any shorter with these changes."

Lindall pointed out that most of the employees who were laid-off were part-time, low-wage workers who only make around $11 per hour. He said more than 100 pages will remain laid-off.

"For $1 million, the city could return 100 pages to work if the mayor makes that a priority," Lindall said.

AFSCME Council 31 recently launched a letter-writing campaign, and several hundred have already sent messages to the mayor's office, asking for hours to be restored.