PASADENA : Library Hours Reduced; Employees Give Up Raises

Faced with nearly $350,000 in budget cuts, the Pasadena Public Library will eliminate weekday morning service at its central branch and close other branches on certain days of the week, officials said Tuesday.

“A reduction in library hours, though regrettable, is unavoidable given the hard economic times,” said Principal Librarian Vickey Johnson.

Johson said library staffers have decided to give back the raises they received this year, which will save the city $110,000.

The new hours at the central library, 285 E. Walnut St., which take effect July 6, will be noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Johnson said the library’s eight other branches will be closed three days a week. She said adjacent branches will not be shut down on the same day.