City plan targets Monday hours, staff as part of deficit response
The city of Long Beach has proposed reducing library hours and eliminating staff positions as part of a broader effort to close a projected $58 million budget shortfall for next year. The proposal would return five branches to a five-day schedule by removing Monday hours, cut staffing in the library system and reduce funding for security and materials.
Under the plan, five of Long Beach’s 12 libraries — Bay Shore, Burnett, El Dorado, Harte and the Michelle Obama branch — would drop from six days of service to five. The city reports that those branches together average more than 1,000 visitors on a typical Monday. All branches already are closed on Sundays, and some city locations had previously been closed on Mondays.
Staff reductions and savings
The proposed library cuts would eliminate 14 positions in the system, 11 of which are currently filled. City documents and library officials say the roles at risk include:
- Five library clerks
- Four library assistants
- A vacant general librarian position at the Billie Jean King Main Library
- A mental health associate who functions as the library’s teen specialist
The plan would also reduce funding for library pages, which handle shelving and material processing, cut nearly all print and digital newspaper subscriptions, and trim security service funding. The city estimates the combined changes would save the library department a little more than $1.4 million.
Community response and what’s at stake
Local educators, union representatives and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation have pushed back against the proposal, arguing that cutting hours and staff will harm children, families and students who depend on library services for homework help, internet access and safe daytime activities.
“In a city the size of Long Beach, and with our population, we could be seeing a 2027 where there are no libraries open on Monday. I think that’s pretty crazy,”
The foundation has launched a petition opposing the reductions and had gathered more than 1,800 signatures as of Friday.
Broader budget context
Library reductions are part of a citywide package unveiled by Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica to close the anticipated deficit. The recommended cuts include laying off more than 260 city employees and eliminating over 200 vacant positions — roughly 4% of Long Beach’s approximately 6,000-person workforce, according to the proposal.
City officials say the changes are intended to help balance next year’s budget. Library advocates argue that the system provides essential services that cannot be easily restored once hours and staff are reduced, and they warn of downstream impacts on literacy, youth programs and public safety in neighborhoods that rely heavily on local branches.
| Library branch | Current days open | Proposed change |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Shore | 6 days (including Monday) | Shift to 5 days (close Mondays) |
| Burnett | 6 days (including Monday) | Shift to 5 days (close Mondays) |
| El Dorado | 6 days (including Monday) | Shift to 5 days (close Mondays) |
| Harte | 6 days (including Monday) | Shift to 5 days (close Mondays) |
| Michelle Obama | 6 days (including Monday) | Shift to 5 days (close Mondays) |
Public comment and budget hearings will determine whether the cuts move forward as proposed. Advocates are mobilizing to press the City Council to seek alternatives or to restore funding before final budget adoption. For families and residents who use library services for internet access, after-school programs and quiet study space, the proposed reductions could mean altered routines and fewer options during the workweek.
As Long Beach faces a large projected shortfall, officials must weigh immediate savings against the long-term value of community services. The outcome will shape how residents experience public libraries in the coming year and how the city balances fiscal constraints with neighborhood needs.
