SF Supervisors Budget Committee votes $480k to open branch libraries on Sundays

The vote was 3-2, with Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who made the motion, voting in favor, joined by Supervisors Chris Daly and Aaron Peskin. Opposing the motion were Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Sean Elsbernd.

At present, 19 of 26 San Francisco Public Library branches are closed on Sundays, while seven branches and the Main Library are open. Under Proposition E, passed in 1994, which requires the Library Commission to set the system’s hours every five years, hours were most recently set in 2005.

Branches set by the Library Commission to remain closed on Sundays were the following: Anza, Bayview/Anna E. Waden, Bernal Heights, Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial, Glen Park, Golden Gate Valley, Ingleside, Merced, Noe Valley/Sally Brunn, North Beach, Ocean View, Ortega, Park, Parkside, Portola, Potrero, Presidio, Visitacion Valley and Western Addition.

The Library would have to return to the Supervisors’ Committee with a report on what it could provide for the money – for example, Sundays for a year at some or all branches or some Sundays at all branches.

Supervisor Mirkarimi persisted in pursuing the goal of having more branches open on Sundays for fiscal year 2006-07, asking the City Librarian questions about expected costs and library rationales for not providing any increased hours in a budget that will increase by $12 million, or 19 percent, compared with the current fiscal year. The City Librarian repeatedly said he did not recommend adding hours.

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