Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s proposed 2019 budget bumps up spending on the city’s public libraries.
“This budget includes money to expand library hours, add additional personnel and $850,000 for new materials,” Curry said on Monday.
Jacksonville Public Library spokesman Chris Boivin said the new materials are definitely needed. And, he said, adding hours is a priority. Boivin said the mayor’s proposal would mean all nine of the city’s branch libraries would be open six days a week.
“The six-day a week service was huge when we were able to extend that to some of the urban core branches — we had wonderful response when we were able to do that in 2015. So, it’s really exciting,” he said.
That was after Jacksonville public libraries suffered significant budget cuts in 2012.
The main library downtown and the four regional branches already operate seven days a week.
The mayor’s proposed budget also includes more than $2 million to buy land for a new library in the Oceanway neighborhood.
