SHARE

Greenburgh Library To Open Sundays Starting In April

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Greenburgh Public Library will soon be open on Sundays following a New York State Education Department regulation for the library to be open a minimum of 55 hours per week.

Starting in April, the Greenburgh Public Library will be open on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Starting in April, the Greenburgh Public Library will be open on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Photo Credit: File/Samantha Kramer

Since the library eliminated Sunday and Thursday evening hours in 2010, the NYSED has been waiving the requirement for a 55-hour week at the Greenburgh library due to budget constraints. But when the library's budget stabilized this year, the department denied the waiver, prompting the Library Board of Trustees to open the library from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays starting in April.

The library is currently open for only 52 hours per week.

On Jan. 22, the library board unanimously resolved to transfer $15,000 from the library's appropriated fund balance into the 2013 library operating fund. The Greenburgh Town Board approved the resolution Wednesday.

Assistant Library Director John Sexton said the library has received numerous requests to open on Sundays, which is normally the busiest day for other libraries throughout the county.

"It's a nice family day — people are not quite as busy with their workday schedule," Sexton said. "After getting the news, a lot of people were excited and looking forward to it."

The additional operating fund will allocate $7,000 to part-time library clerks, $6,000 to part-time librarians and $2,000 for electrical expenses, according to the town board resolution. The library will not make any additional hires, Sexton said.

Those who visited the library Tuesday said they were glad to hear the building would be open an extra day. Susan Hilsenratch, of Greenburgh, said she's grateful the library will  provide its needed services an extra day of the week.

"It's good that they'll be open for the people who use its computers since they don't have any," Hilsenratch said.

Richard Murphy said he goes to the Greenburgh library several times a week for research, but is forced to go to Ossining's and Hasting's libraries on Sundays. Greenburgh's Sunday hours will be a major convenience for him, he said.

to follow Daily Voice Greenburgh and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE