Some branches of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Public Library system will restore a fifth day to their weekly schedule, three years after cutting back.
Now open four days a week, four branches will add an extra day starting Wednesday. Some branches will add Monday to their week; some will add Thursday.
NEW BRANCH HOURS* Eastgate and Northgate: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday* Ooltewah/Collegedale and South Chattanooga: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-FridaySource: Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library
The branches affected will be Eastgate, Northgate, Ooltewah/Collegedale and South Chattanooga. The schedule for the downtown branch stays the same.
The fifth day was removed in 2007 because of budget cuts. Library Director David Clapp said the system has wanted to restore the time all along.
“That was our intention from the beginning,” he said.
He said the system saved some money on retirement benefits this year and shifting some personnel from the downtown branch. That saved enough money to restore the hours, he said.
Because the downtown library is undergoing interior renovations and shifting of materials, it does not take as many staff members to work there, he said.
Carol Green, branch manager for the entire library system, said patrons have been asking to have the fifth day of service restored.
“They are just thrilled to death,” she said.
She said the library originally was open six days a week. Then it went to five days and then four. Now with extra staff coming from the downtown branch, other branches will be able to provide better service in the long run, she said.
“It should help,” Green said.