More Budget Woes in Seattle

One of the world's most beautiful libraries.

Link to October 26 Lit Life column in the Seattle Times, "Library cuts go too deep". (via Lazyfeed, eventually)

Excerpt: Since 2000, library usage in the city has soared; from 4.5 million in-person and virtual visitors to 13.2 million in 2008, according to the library.

Nevertheless, responding to Mayor Greg Nickels' directive to city departments to cut budgets in response to a $72 million revenue shortfall, the library is proposing a 23 percent reduction in library hours.

Under the proposal, 21 out of 27 branches in the city would be closed Fridays (when all branches are now open) and Sundays (right now, 16 out of 27 branches are open).