Champaign Library

The Champaign Public Library will be opening an hour early at 9am on Saturdays starting in June. From Today's News-Gazette:

Champaign council gives initial OK to library's budget, extra hour
...
The hour increase comes a year after the library was able to restore hours previously cut in a cost-saving measure.

Included in the proposed budget is $49,643 to be used to fill a half-time position and increase the hours for a librarian and library associate. There's no funding for several other full-time-equivalent positions that remain unfilled, but Pittman said that could change in future budgets.

Public library officials did a community survey to establish their focus for upcoming years, and Pittman said a big takeaway was that people want more library hours on Fridays and weekends.

"Our priority in the future will be to fill more vacant positions, to add back hours at the main library and possibly even expand to better serve our community," Pittman said.

One way the library is expanding its services now is by letting all Unit 4 School District students receive a library card, no matter the city they live in.

Full article here.