For Immediate Release
December 14, 2016
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –December 14, 2016 - Beginning January 2017, Santa Clara County Library District’s (SCCLD) Los Altos Library will open an extra five hours each week thanks to additional funding by the North County Library Authority (NCLA) and the collaborative effort of SCCLD staff in staffing and scheduling for the new hours.
“This is proof positive that our libraries really are 21st century institutions. I’m not surprised by the demand, and I’m thrilled we’re meeting it,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, and SCCLD Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Board member.
Beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2017, Los Altos Library’s new open hours will be:
Monday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The new hours are reflective of the suggestions and wishes of over 600 Los Altos and Los Altos Hills Library users who completed an SCCLD survey last spring. Their responses provided valuable input into various library offerings, including changes they would like to see in hours of operation.
Funding from the North County Library Authority (NCLA) will allow SCCLD to add additional library staff during the extra open hours. Approximately $85,300 was approved for the expanded hours. “The Los Altos Public Library is the most loved, used and appreciated service in the City. The North County Library Authority, which oversees the library parcel tax funds, has been reviewing financial projections and efficiency measures with the goal to increase the open hours of the library. Responding to the desire of the citizens of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills shown on the recent patron survey, NCLA is truly pleased to be able to fund this increase in hours. Weekends show the busiest use of the library so we are responding to that need and are now able to open the library Sunday morning as well as extend the hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. I'm personally looking forward to the additional hours!" commented NCLA Commissioner Suzanne Epstein.
The additional open hours will provide residents more opportunities for visits to the facility and convenient access to library services. For additional information about the Los Altos Library, please visit www.sccl.org.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 1.9 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work.
In 2014, SCCLD celebrated one hundred years of service to local residents. For the last several years, SCCLD has been consistently recognized as one of America’s Star Libraries by Library Journal. In 2016, SCCLD was ranked among the top ten large libraries in the United States in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. In 2014 and 2015, SCCLD won Innovator Awards from the Urban Libraries Council.
The Santa Clara County Library District includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2016, the Santa Clara County Library District had more than 270,000 library cardholders and welcomed 3.3 million visitors who borrowed 9.1 million items, making it one of the most used resources in the region. Visit Santa Clara County Library District online at www.sccl.org.
Contact:
Nancy Howe/Chris Brown /Lili Smith
Santa Clara County Library District
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3001/3002/3014
