How will new Everett library hours affect its programs?

EVERETT — After a 12% budget cut, the Everett Public Library reduced its open hours this week in order to balance its books.

Both library locations are now open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. After going into effect at the start of December, both library branches will be open in the evenings only one night per week, and will be closed Mondays.

Most users The Daily Herald spoke to this week at both branches were unaware of the new schedule. As many visit the library infrequently, they felt the effects of the change were minor. Others, however, were saddened by the reduction in hours or programs the library could offer.

“When I first moved here, I couldn’t believe that this community had a library like this. I was in heaven,” said Ann Morgan, a former member of the Everett Public Library Board. “The fact that this community built this library and has funded it, I think it’s just miraculous. I wish they’d keep doing it.”

The city cut about $700,000 from the library’s budget to balance a $12.6 million deficit in its general fund. In August, voters rejected a property tax levy lift ballot measure that would have brought additional funding for a number of city services, including libraries. The average Everett homeowner’s property tax bill would have increased by approximately $28 per month.

Everett has faced a structural deficit since 2001, when voters passed a statewide initiative capping the annual growth of property tax levies at 1%, lower than the rate of inflation. Since property tax is a vital and consistent form of revenue, the city said, the stagnant revenue forces cuts every year.

“When reducing the hours, I can say that our library staff and board really carefully considered the impacts of which hours to reduce, and frankly, there are no good hours to reduce,” Library Director Abigail Cooley said Friday. “Different people use the libraries at different times for different needs … so we tried to balance equitably between both locations.”

The schedule change impacted a number of library programs and partnerships. Storytimes, a program for reading to young children under 5, will be held five times a week instead of six.

The main library’s book discussion group will move from Tuesday to Thursday night. The library is also looking for a new time to host the Little Science Lab, an Imagine Children’s Museum program previously held on the first Fridays of every month. In general, Cooley said, the library will have fewer adult programs due to only being open one evening a week.

Because the two library branches are now closed Mondays, Play and Learn — an Everett Public Schools program for children younger than 5 years old, formerly held in the Everett libraries that day — was moved to the Lively Environmental Center in Mill Creek. The program is still held at the Evergreen branch on Tuesdays.

Another program that will be impacted is an AARP tax assistance service known as Tax-Aide. It provides free tax help to anybody who needs it, with a focus on people over 50 years old or with low to moderate income.

The program, hosted from Feb. 1 to April 15 across Snohomish County, has previously operated from the Evergreen branch on Fridays and Saturdays. That will continue with the new schedule, but because the branch will not be open Saturday mornings, volunteers say fewer people may be able to get tax assistance.

Gordon Alexander, who helps run the volunteer program in Snohomish County, estimated about 1,000 people got tax assistance from the Evergreen branch last year, out of the 4,000 who received help throughout the county. Between 200 and 250 of those came to the Evergreen branch between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, he said, a time when the library won’t be open next year.

“We’re disappointed, but we’re totally understanding,” Alexander said Tuesday. “When you don’t have the money, you can’t keep the place open.”

The service will remain at the Evergreen branch for its normal operating hours Fridays and Saturdays, but Alexander said the organization is looking for a new location to host the service between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. A new location would need to be close to the branch, have access to the internet and room for up to 25 people. Those who know of a space can contact gja52@hotmail.com.

Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.