Pandemic may force cities to close the book on extra library hours

The ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are hitting Bay Area municipal budgets, and in Contra Costa County that means some cities can expect local libraries to be open less often.

County Librarian Melinda Cervantes told the Board of Supervisors recently that an unspecified number of cities that fund additional library hours beyond the 35 a week the county system provides have said they plan to reduce those extra hours next fiscal year.