Starting in January, the Morgan Hill Library will be open every Monday for the first time in several years, according to the County librarian.
Due to heavy demand from residents, the library will be open six days a week, starting Jan. 6, 2014, according to Santa Clara County Librarian Nancy Howe. The library will remain closed on Sundays.
Another notable change to the Morgan Hill library’s schedule is the facility will open later on Wednesdays starting Jan. 6, Howe said. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays the library’s hours will be 1 to 9 p.m., with lobby or “self service” hours starting at 12 p.m.
Currently the library is closed on Mondays.
The library will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting in January, Howe said.
The new schedule increases the total weekly library hours by two, and is based on use data collected from library patrons, Howe explained.
“It’s a balance. What we’re trying to do is have the library meet the needs of a cross section of people,” Howe said. “We analyze how busy we are.” Mondays are typically busy days at other libraries that are open that day, she added.
Morgan Hill Community Librarian Peggy Tomasso added, “There was a survey of residents a couple of years ago about what days and hours they would like to see the library open. Monday was overwhelmingly the day that the community wanted the library open. Evening hours are popular for students and community members who work during the day.”
The new and extended hours are possible due to extra revenue from the redistributed property tax income from the Redevelopment Agency, which closed in 2012, Howe said. The state shut down the agencies statewide in an effort to direct their assets and income to more basic services offered by school districts, the library district, cities and counties.
In Morgan Hill, the RDA received about $22 million annually in property tax revenues, a portion of which is still used to pay off some of the RDA’s outstanding debts and obligations.
“If this works, and redevelopment continues to flow in, we’ll try to increase these hours,” Howe said.
The Morgan Hill library is located at 660 West Main Avenue.
Starting Jan. 6, 2014, the Morgan Hill library’s hours will be:
-Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, 1 to 9 p.m. (with unstaffed “self service” lobby hours starting at 12 p.m.)
-Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
-Sunday, closed
