Libraries across DeKalb County will stay open longer starting next year, adding operating hours on Wednesday nights and on weekends.
The library system announced Friday it will restore hours at 17 branches. These libraries lost operating hours five years ago because of budget shortfalls.
In all, libraries will remain open 111 more hours per week in 2017 after the DeKalb Commission voted in July to increase the system's budget. Employees are being hired to staff the libraries at an annualized cost of about $2 million.
“This allows us to better serve the community by providing more convenience and flexibility for patrons who visit the facilities,” said Alison Weissinger, the library system’s director. “We look forward to working with the county toward the time when all the hours cut in 2011 can be restored. This is a wonderful beginning.”
- Four neighborhood libraries will resume operations on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as opening an hour earlier at 10 a.m. daily: Brookhaven, Embry Hills, Gresham and Lithonia-Davidson. Their hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday.
- Thirteen larger libraries will stay open three hours later, until 8 p.m., on Wednesdays: Clarkston, Covington, Dunwoody, Flat Shoals, Hairston Crossing, Northlake-Barbara Loar, Redan-Trotti, Salem-Panola, Scott Candler, Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg, Stonecrest, Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams and Tucker-Reid H. Cover. Their hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.
Operating hours are unchanged at the Chamblee, Decatur, Doraville, Scottdale-Tobie Grant and Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown branches.
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