Community Corner
Arroyo Seco Library Back In Action On Mondays
Libraries across Los Angeles had been closed down on Monday due to budget cuts until this week, when voter approved Measure L funds kicked in to restore hours.
Highland Park readers can once again enjoy the riches found at the .
The regional library was one of 73 branches within the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) system that were forced to close their doors on Mondays due to budget cuts, limiting its service hours to five days per week.
“We found out about a month ago that we would be reopening again on Mondays,” said branch manager Dora Suarez. “It’s been a year. July 18 of last year was the first time we closed on Mondays and so it’s been exactly one year.”
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The restoration of hours was made possible by Los Angeles city voters' passage of Measure L. Over 63 percent of voters approved the measure during the local ballot measures election held throughout California on March 8, 2011.
“It benefits the community tremendously. Students and community members can come and use the resources that we have on Mondays. I think it took a lot of people by surprise when we first were closed on Mondays, not a lot of people knew about it and why we were closed. Once Measure L passed, it helped us to get our hours back,” Suarez said.
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Measure L will be phased in over the next four years, according to a fact sheet posted on the LAPL website.
With Monday service restored to the 73 branches in the LAPL system, additional phases include restoring service to two evenings, purchasing books and materials, and eventually bringing back Sunday service to nine libraries.
“I just found out they were going to be open when I checked out some DVDs on Saturday,” Brisa Lopez said. “They told me to return them on Monday, so I asked if they were going to be open and they said yes, so I’m here returning them. It’s better than waiting until Tuesday when they open later in the day.”
offers a variety of activities and programs for children, teenagers and adults throughout the year.
Many of the activities take place Tuesday through Thursday and occasionally on Friday, however, Suarez said the branch will most likely add a Monday activity to its existing calendar.
“It benefits us today because we’re here on a Monday, which we couldn’t do for a while,” Adriana Munoz said. “So now on Mondays we can come and read and have something to do, so I think it’s great.”
Suarez said, “Thankfully the voters did approve us and support us and that’s why we are able to be open again on Mondays.”
