With the pandemic starting to be visible in the rearview mirror, there’s good news for students and readers in the downtown San Diego area. Starting mid-September, the city will be working around the clock to open up the last ten libraries that remain closed due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. There are a total of 36 libraries in the area. Currently, 26 of them are open for in-person service, with 14 of them recently opening on July 6.
Not only do they plan on reopening the libraries that currently remain closed, but they also hope to increase overall branch hours to pre-pandemic levels by next year. Of the 36 libraries, 23 will only be open Monday-Friday for 51 hours a week. The other 13 will operate 56 hours a week, opening for five hours on Sundays.
Libraries in downtown San Diego will add Sunday hours incrementally in three waves. Four libraries are scheduled to start Sunday hours this fall: Downtown, Logan Heights, Valencia Park, and City Heights. Next winter, Mission Valley, Mira Mesa, Otay Mesa, and Pacific Beach will start opening on Sundays. The last wave will include La Jolla, Kearny Mesa, Point Loma, Carmel Valley, and Rancho Bernardo, which will all start opening on Sundays in the spring of 2022.
Head Librarian Misty Jones explained that they are moving as quickly as possible, but could possibly move faster if there weren’t so many roadblocks. One of the obstacles libraries are facing is hiring new employees to staff all 36 locations for all operating hours. The city is looking to hire more than 170 workers. Turnover at public libraries downtown has always been an issue, but was further worsened during the pandemic when there were more than 150 vacant jobs.
With more libraries opening for longer hours and a reborn interest in downtown San Diego real estate, San Diego may soon be the place to be for college students and recent graduates. Anyone looking for part-time work is urged by the city to apply for an open position, which will now include benefits.