San Diego Central Library. Photo courtesy of the library.
San Diego Central Library. Photo courtesy of the library.

Longer hours at city of San Diego libraries begin Saturday.

Operating hours were reduced substantially when the recession took a bite out of city finances, but they’ve slowly been restored the last couple of years.

“Today we’re closing the book on the service cuts our library system has faced over the years,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “We’re starting a new chapter of opportunity for our city.”

Every branch library in San Diego will add four hours Monday through Saturday. A dozen of the branches will add even more hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

The San Diego Central Library will add five hours per week.

“Libraries change the lives and communities they serve,” Councilwoman Marti Emerald said. “The additional hours allow our dedicated library staff to extend that service to the times people need their libraries the most.”

According to Deputy Library Director Bruce Johnson, library hours will be at their highest level in a decade.

— City News Service