After not getting as much funding from the city as it hoped, the board of the London Public Library has announced branches won't be open on Sundays for the rest of the year.
The board made its decision at its March 21 meeting.
"The Board’s decision, not reached lightly, is in response to a recommendation presented by management based on short and long-term budget pressures and the Library’s need to find savings in areas where there could be a lesser impact to the community," it said in a post on the London Public Library website.
Considered a "value-added service" by the Library, Sunday afternoon hours at the Bostwick, Cherryhill, and Masonville branches were set to continue until May 7, then resume in October. The Sunday hours during the school year were "very much appreciated by the community," according to the Library, but they are no longer affordable.
Sunday, March 24 was the final day for Sunday service for 2024.
"We're going to do a cost benefit analysis," Library Board Chair Brian Gibson told London News Today. "So, over the next several months, we're going to look at the cost impact Sunday service savings have versus the impact it has on our services in the community."
Gibson added that he's hoping the public will make its feelings known about the reduction in service.
"Reach out to the Board of Directors, reach out to myself, reach out to your city council, reach out to the mayor. Let them know, not only the impact that Sunday service may have on you, but also other public library services and let them know what you utilize and what you want to see continued. We are responsible to the taxpayer, we're responsible to the City of London, and responsible to each Londoner. So, as such, we want to hear from Londoners about the impact our cuts have on them. We want city council and the mayor to know as well, so talk to us," Gibson said.
In February, the London Public Library joined Museum London, the Grand Theatre, and the London Arts Council in releasing an open letter to city council, warning of the impact of insufficient funding for arts, culture, heritage, and library services.
Council approved a multi-year budget that gives the library $23,696,355 plus $5.6 million from city reserves for the library's capital budget in 2024, $25,118,136 in 2025, $26,399,161 in 2026, and $27,771,917 in 2027. Library CEO Michael Ciccone told the London Free Press that the amounts from 2025 to 2027 are "not enough" to prevent significant reductions in service levels.