{"id":2220099,"date":"2024-04-13T11:16:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T15:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-than-20-seattle-libraries-to-see-rolling-closures-due-to-city-hiring-freeze\/"},"modified":"2024-04-13T11:23:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T15:23:11","slug":"more-than-20-seattle-libraries-to-see-rolling-closures-due-to-city-hiring-freeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-than-20-seattle-libraries-to-see-rolling-closures-due-to-city-hiring-freeze\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 20 Seattle libraries face temporary closures amid city hiring freeze"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmore-than-20-seattle-libraries-to-see-rolling-closures-due-to-city-hiring-freeze%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2220099&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Seattle&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/toronto-public-library-eliminates-late-fees-to-combat-racial-inequity\/\" title=\"Toronto Public Library Eliminates Late Fees To Combat Racial Inequity\">public library system<\/a> faces closures due to hiring freezes and funding shortages, despite recent staff increases and a\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-chicago-mayor-elect-brandon-johnson-inheriting-from-lori-lightfoot\/\" title=\"What is Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson inheriting from Lori Lightfoot?\">property tax levy<\/a>. Mayor Harrell&#8217;s\u2064 partial freeze, aiming to address a growing city deficit, led \u200dto\u2062 projected closures \u200cand staff \u2064burnout\u2064 concerns. \u2064City Councilmember Morales urges action \u200cto address \u200cthe\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-attempts-to-portray-himself-as-deficit-hawk-after-student-debt-bailout-that-will-cost-300-billion-1-trillion\/\" title=\"Biden Attempts to Portray Himself as Deficit Hawk After Student Debt Bailout That Will Cost 0 Billion- Trillion\">budget gap<\/a>, emphasizing the need for corporate\u2062 and wealthy \u2062resident contributions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_78\">\n<p>(The Center Square) \u2013 Seattle will implement scheduled closures of over 20 public libraries as a result of hiring freezes and looming budget shortfalls.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle Public Library will be implementing the library closures intermittently through June 4 due to limited staffing capacity throughout its library branches.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/shelftalkblog.wordpress.com\/2024\/04\/11\/the-seattle-public-library-to-implement-scheduled-branch-closures-through-june-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schools-across-the-country-see-last-minute-closures-due-to-covid-19-staffing-issues\/\" title=\"Schools Across The Country See Last-Minute Closures Due To COVID-19 Staffing Issues\">announced closures<\/a><\/strong><\/a> are going through despite Seattle\u2019s public library system having successfully hired over 160 new staff members since 2020 to meet and exceed pre-pandemic open hours. <\/p>\n<p>Seattle Public Library was even able to expand open hours systemwide, thanks in part to a seven-year, $219.1 million property tax levy to maintain and enhance library services from 2020 through 2026. The levy costs the average median Seattle homeowner approximately $8 per year.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell instituted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_16dba2c0-ba23-11ee-95f3-77cdd9308e63.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/seattle-mayor-says-no-to-new-taxes-to-address-229m-budget-gap\/\" title=\"Seattle's mayor rejects new taxes to tackle 9M budget shortfall\">partial hiring freeze<\/a><\/strong><\/a>, citing a \u201csignificant financial gap forecasted in 2025.\u201d At the time, the projected budget deficit facing the city was $230 million. Since then, a new labor contract with city workers caused the deficit to grow to a projected $245 million.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle Public Library is a non-executive city department that has the authority to authorize its own hiring policies. Despite this, the library has implemented a hiring freeze in tandem with the mayor. However, Chief Librarian Tom Fay has approved some exemptions, such as allowing the library to hire temporary staff to help stabilize operations.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, library employees <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_HcjevIh69A&#038;t=614s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>warned Seattle city councilmembers<\/strong><\/a> that library closures will come soon and that employees are already experiencing burnout from increased workload.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a wake-up call for our city,\u201d Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/council.seattle.gov\/2024\/04\/11\/this-is-a-wake-up-call-councilmember-morales-statement-on-seattle-public-library-closures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>statement<\/strong><\/a> following the announcement. \u201cWithout urgent action, things will get so much worse than this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morales called on her fellow councilmembers to explore ways to make corporations based in Seattle and the wealthiest residents pay their fair share as a way to address the $245 million budget deficit without cutting more city services. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the only way we protect our libraries and the services all of us depend on,\u201d said Morales.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the full list of Seattle Public Library schedule closures through June 4<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Central Library: No planned closures<\/li>\n<li>Ballard Branch: No planned closures<\/li>\n<li>Beacon Hill Branch: Closed Sunday, April 14, April 28, May 12 and May 26<\/li>\n<li>Broadview Branch: Closed on Sundays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Capitol Hill Branch: Opening at noon on Thursdays and closed on Sundays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Columbia Branch: Closed Saturdays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Delridge Branch: No planned closures<\/li>\n<li>Douglass-Truth Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Fremont Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Green Lake Branch: Currently closed for seismic retrofit construction<\/li>\n<li>Greenwood Branch: No planned closures<\/li>\n<li>High Point Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>International District\/Chinatown Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Lake City Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Madrona Sally-Goldmark Branch: Closed Wednesdays and Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Magnolia Branch: Closed Sundays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Montlake Branch: Closed Tuesdays and Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>NewHolly Branch: Closed Mondays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Northeast Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Northgate Branch: Closed Saturdays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Queen Anne Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Rainier Beach Branch: Closed Sunday, April 21, May 5, May 19 and June 2<\/li>\n<li>South Park Branch: Closed Mondays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>Southwest Branch: Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4<\/li>\n<li>University Branch:No planned closures<\/li>\n<li>Wallingford Branch: Closed Fridays and Saturdays through June 4<\/li>\n<li>West Seattle Branch: Closed Fridays through June 4<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seattle Public Library is set to close over 20 libraries due to hiring freezes and budget deficits. The closures will occur intermittently until June 4 due to limited staffing. Despite public concerns, the announced closures will proceed, impacting library services throughout Seattle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3063,"featured_media":2220100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP21292588532874-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2220099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP21292588532874-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2220099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3063"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2220099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2220099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2220100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2220099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2220099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2220099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}