Walnut : Funds Keep Library Open

The City Council has voted to provide funding to keep the local county library open an extra day each week after county budgets cuts reduced service from four days to two.

Council members allocated $37,400 for the Walnut Public Library, in the Civic Center at 21155 La Puente Road, to provide an additional day of service until Jan. 31, when the county hopes an assessment district will be established to support the facilities. Each extra day of service will cost $1,700, city officials say.

Walnut Librarian Renee Yasoe Tobin said the library will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in addition to 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

In August, the county sharply curtailed service at most of its 87 libraries because supervisors cut the $69-million library budget in half.

County library officials want state lawmakers to approve legislation that would allow them to create an assessment on property in cities and county areas without their own libraries. Many San Gabriel Valley libraries could close if the assessment district is not approved by February, officials say.