LOS ANGELES : Walters Suggests Cutting Library’s Weekday Hours

In a move that has angered the librarians union, Councilwoman Rita Walters said Wednesday that the cash-strapped Central Library should consider reducing its weekday hours to remain open on Sundays.

In a motion presented to the council, Walters said that Sunday hours at the library are an important resource for working people and children, who often find it difficult to come on other days.

Noting that private funding for Sunday hours may soon run out, and arguing that resources should not be drained from branch libraries, Walters said that “all available budget-neutral options” should be considered.

However, the librarians union staunchly opposes making Sundays part of their regular workweek. Now, Sunday duty is voluntary and merits time-and-a-half pay.

The union argues that at a time when staffing in the library system as a whole has been severely cut back, Sunday hours are a luxury the city cannot afford. If librarians work Sundays, they should get double-time pay, the union says. “(The library) is placing the burden on the employees to provide a service when the resources are not there for that service,” said Rosalie Preston, a vice president of the librarians union.

But Howard Gantman, Walters’ deputy, said librarians should be willing to work Sundays, as do many other city employees.