Washoe County Library Branches Spared

Despite predictions to the contrary, the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees announced at its March 18 meeting that there will be no branch closures. Those in question were Sierra View in the Reno Town Mall, the system's busiest branch, and the downtown library, the second busiest, and North Valley in the North Hills Shopping Center. Sierra View and North Valley were on the chopping block because both are in leased space, not in buildings owned by the library. What saved the day were rent reductions made by the branch landlords - a two thirds rent reduction by North Hills Shopping Center and a 100% reduction at the Reno Town Mall. Those two concessions save the library over $275,000 over the next fiscal year. Staff reductions (74 fewer over the last three years) and other cost cutting measures will make up the 5% library system budget reduction required by the county.

Library staffing is now at 160 full-time and part-time employees. Although it looks like all 11 branches will remain open for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, there will be reduced hours and perhaps more closed days starting July 1. I haven't seen a revised schedule yet, but will report when I learn more.

I for one am grateful that the Board of Trustees found a way to keep all library branches open. Public libraries are a fundamental institution in our society and need to be preserved. Depriving citizens of their library services when the need is so great is the wrong thing to do.

Sources: Washoe County Library System, Reno Gazette-Journal.

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