The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library is pleased to announce it will be increasing its Sunday hours in 2014 by opening its University Heights branch on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. The new hours will begin on January 5, 2014.
The increased Sunday hours are being implemented in response to the community‘s request to return Sunday hours to the library’s branches. In 2009, Heights Libraries had to cut Sunday hours at three out of its four branches when the State of Ohio drastically reduced public library funding: The Lee Road branch remained open on Sundays but the Coventry Village, Noble Neighborhood, and University Heights branches closed.
“We conducted an extensive community survey last February, and an issue that came up with our customers was a desire for more hours, especially on Sundays,” says Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “So we analyzed our circulation rates and our budget, and found a way to better serve our customer’s needs while keeping our budget balanced.”
The library decided to increase hours at the University Heights branch because it is the second most-heavily used of the four branches (behind the Lee Road branch), with the second highest circulation rates and second highest population of patrons living near, and using, the branch.
The additional hours at the University Heights branch will be funded by closing the library’s Coventry Village branch on Fridays, a day with relatively low circulation rates compared to the other three branches in the system.
“We can’t wait to offer our customers the greater access they’ve been asking for,” says Aurora Martinez, branch manager at University Heights.
The news hours will be implemented for one year, at which time Heights Libraries will assess the effectiveness of the change.
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