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Hartford Library's Branches Get Money To Extend Hours

By BILL LEUKHARDT

June 29, 2009

HARTFORD — - The city council last week restored $125,000 to the Hartford Public Library's budget, allowing all nine branches to stay open a little longer starting today.

All branches will open earlier each day and be open one night a week until 7:30 p.m. In addition, five branches will now be open on Saturdays. Hours at the downtown library, 500 Main St., will remain the same.

"Our customers were unhappy about the reduced hours in the branch system. The new schedule restores 48 hours per week throughout the city," said Matt Poland, one of two interim directors of the library.

In July 2008, the library board was forced to close the Blue Hills and Mark Twain branches, reduce hours in other branches and lay off 40 employees to close an $870,000 budget gap.

The two branches reopened in September after state lawmakers gave the city $200,000 to help the library system, which averages more than 800,000 visitors yearly at its 10 locations.

The new branch hours effective today are:

•Albany branch: Monday through Wednesday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Barbour branch: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Blue Hills branch: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Camp Field branch: Monday through Wednesday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Dwight branch: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Goodwin branch: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Mark Twain branch: Monday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Park branch: Monday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and Friday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.

•Ropkins branch: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 12:30 to 5 p.m.