Thanks to the support of a five year levy approved by City of Eugene voters in November 2015, all locations of Eugene Public Library will be open more hours each week starting July 1. The new schedule will be:
DOWNTOWN LIBRARY
Mon. – Thurs.: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fri. – Sun.: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
First Friday each month: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
BETHEL & SHELDON BRANCHES
Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sat.: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tues.: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sun.: closed
At the Bethel and Sheldon Branches, the new schedule provides a sixth day each week (Monday), includes three mornings and three late afternoons, and continues popular evening hours on Tuesdays. At the Downtown Library, the doors will open at 10:00 a.m. every day of the week including Sundays.
Other expanded services supported by levy funds will include:
- Adding new computer tablets and/or laptops for on-site use to double Internet access at the Bethel and Sheldon Branches.
- Increasing free events, storytimes, and classes by 33%, with a particular focus on priorities identified by the community: support for young readers and their parents; activities for teens; and maker activities.
- Increasing the Library’s budget for books, movies, eBooks, and other items, which will provide quicker availability of in-demand titles.
The levy will provide $2.7 million annually for five years, which equals about $36 per year for a typical Eugene property tax statement or 17¢ per $1,000 assessed value. To ensure accountability and transparency, regular updates about levy spending and its uses will be posted on the Library’s website. In addition, the levy measure specified separate levy fund budget and accounting (as per state law), annual staff summary of spending and performance measures, annual review by the citizen Library Advisory Board, and an annual City Manager’s report to City Council.
According to Library Director Connie Bennett, “All of us at Eugene Public Library look forward to this opportunity to do more for the community. The added hours, programs, materials, and technology will mean greater benefits for all -- educationally, economically, and for entertainment as well.”
Other expanded services supported by levy funds will include:
- Returning the Library’s budget for books, movies, eBooks, etc., to 2009 levels for quicker availability of in-demand items.
- Adding new computer tablets and laptops for on-site use to double Internet access at the Bethel and Sheldon Branches.
- Increasing events, storytimes, and classes by 33% with a particular focus on priorities identified by the community: support for young readers and their parents; activities for teens; and “maker” opportunities (access to tools and skills training for individuals and small businesses, including new technologies).
The levy will provide $2.7 million annually for five years, about $36 per year for a typical Eugene property tax statement or 17¢ per $1,000 assessed value. To ensure accountability and transparency, the measure specified provisions including: separate levy fund budget and accounting (as per state law); annual staff summary of spending and performance measures; annual review by the citizen Library Advisory Board; and an annual City Manager’s report to City Council.
According to Library Director Connie Bennett, “All of us at Eugene Public Library look forward to this opportunity to do more for the community. We thank the voters for this support of the Library. The added hours, programs, materials, and technology will mean greater benefits to community members educationally, economically, and for entertainment as well.”
Says Mayor Kitty Piercy, “The Eugene Public Library makes valuable services available to everyone – children and families, teens, seniors, job searchers, small businesses, and more. I see it as a key part of who we are as a city. I am particularly pleased that this will expand services to those who need them the most. The City of Eugene greatly appreciates the voters being willing to provide this additional support for more hours and materials so we can continue to have top quality library services for everyone in our community.”
More information about the Library levy.
Current Library hours, in effect through June 30.