Friends of the Oakland Public Library

  

"Public libraries receive less than 1% of all tax dollars and are used by more than 50 percent of the population." 
 
- from the American Library Assn.'s 'Quotable Facts About America's Libraries'  

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NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS - OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
The new fiscal year, 2003-04, began on July 1, 2003, and the City’s adopted budget has resulted in several new changes for the Oakland Public Library, including:
 


 
bulletA reduction in public service hours from 6 to 5 days per week for four branches and a change in schedule for the entire branch system beginning Saturday, July 12, 2003 due to the elimination of approximately 22 part-time employees (please link here to press release for a summary of the new hours);
 
bulletThe relocation of the Second Start Adult Literacy Program from a rented facility downtown to a City-owned multi-use facility in West Oakland (1801 Adeline Street);
 
bulletA small augmentation to the Library’s book budget over the next two years. Unfortunately, this increase will be offset by a reduction of approximately 20-30% in supplemental book money from the state;
 
bulletA reduction in exhibition dollars for the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) - to be replaced by funding from a state grant;

The Main Library will remain open 7 days per week on its regular schedule, as will the Temescal Tool Lending Library.

bulletGo here for the new Library schedule.

The City is still negotiating with the various representative bargaining units regarding the one day per month closure of all City offices and several other issues. These issues remain unsettled as of the middle of July.

The Library is sorry about the inconvenience and problems that new branch schedules may be causing some library patrons.

Unfortunately, the City’s severe budget deficit, a continuing City-wide hiring freeze, the inability of Measure O (the Library Retention and Enhancement Act of 1994) to keep pace with inflation and salary levels, and the necessity of eliminating staff used to cover weekend hours has resulted in these changes. Library staff will be monitoring how the new schedules affect users and will reevaluate and make adjustments, if possible, in the next six months.


This site developed and managed by Terry Preston
Last modified: Tuesday April 17, 2007