Libraries closing on Sundays

Beginning Sunday, Oct. 2, Selby Public Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota, and Jacaranda Public Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice, will be closed on Sundays.

Of the county’s eight public libraries, Selby and Jacaranda were the only two open on Sundays. All eight Sarasota County public libraries will be open Monday through Saturday.

The Sunday closing, as well as several other measures, is the result of a $450,000 budget reduction proposed by library staff and approved by the Sarasota County Commission earlier this summer during a series of fiscal year 2012 budget workshops.

In addition to closing on Sundays, libraries also will temporarily suspend the Interlibrary Loan Service, cut back the number of days items are transferred between libraries, and reduce the amount spent on items such as books, magazines and periodicals by $96,000.

In preparation for the budget reduction, library staff conducted a customer survey that asked if libraries were to close one day per week, which day would have the least impact on their use of the library; an overwhelming majority indicated closing on Sunday would have the least impact. Those who frequent libraries on Sundays said they would visit on another day.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visit www.sclibs.net.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].