ORANGE : 3 Library Branches Will Reduce Hours

Beginning today, three of the Orange Public Library’s four branches will reduce their operating hours in a cutback that library officials blame on a city hiring freeze.

Because budget cuts a year ago forced a freeze on a dozen positions, ranging from librarian down to page, branch hours had to be trimmed “to continue to provide quality service,” said Eugenia Wong, the library’s technical services manager.

The Main Library will maintain its current schedule.

The El Modena, Santiago Hills and Taft branches will now be closed on Fridays, and Saturday hours will be shortened at each site.

Each of the three branches will also close on another weekday.

The El Modena branch will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

It will be closed on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The Santiago Hills branch will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

It will be closed on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.

The Taft branch will be open noon to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

It will be closed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The Main Branch will continue to be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, call (714) 288-2400.