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News

County Libraries to Close 1 or 2 Days a Week

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Photo by Gibson Claire McGuire Regester via Flickr

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

Blame the budget: Several libraries in Los Angeles County will close one or two days a week starting Monday, according to the Star-News, thanks to "an $8.8 million budget cut."

Libraries that will implement the new operating hours are located in Baldwin Park, El Monte, La Mirada, La Puente, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Gabriel, South El Monte, Temple City, Walnut and West Covina.

There are some exceptions to the closures; no libraries in unincorporated areas of the county are affected by this, and a few libraries will extend their hours of service on the remaining days they are open. Lastly, those libraries located "where property owners pay a special parcel tax have been exempted from the changes."

In June at the City level, the Los Angeles Public Library announced they'd reduce their operating schedules to 5 days a week, prompting protests and a movement to include a measure on the November ballot calling for increased taxes to generate revenue to support libraries.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

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