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| Local elected officials gathered at Rockville Memorial Library with community library advocates and Friends of the Library, Montgomery County representatives to announce the expanded hours, along with increased staff and added materials in the branches to support the extra hours. Pictured (from left): Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz; Council President Craig Rice; County Executive Ike Leggett; MCPL Director Parker Hamilton; Councilman Phil Andrews; Council Vice President George Leventhal; and Councilmembers Nancy Floreen, Roger Berliner and Nancy Navarro. View photos from the event. |
Beginning Sunday, October 5, Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will be open longer, with added service hours totaling 106 hours, 9.4 percent more than in fiscal year 2014.
Sixteen branches will have expanded hours, joining the five branches whose hours were increased in FY13. The expanded hours at the Silver Spring branch will go into effect when the new library opens later in this fiscal year.
Four more branches will be open on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. bringing the total number with Sunday hours to 13.
In support of the expanded hours, a substantial increase in staff has been added -- 39 merit positions, plus additional substitute staff – bringing current staffing to its highest level since FY10.
To further enhance the system, funding for materials acquisition was increased for the current fiscal year by $500,000. This is the largest materials budget ($5,350,000) since FY10.
The increases were made possible by recommendations from County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council totaling $800,000 in the FY15 Operating Budget in response to feedback from the community.