The ramifications of having to keep 11 branch libraries open - contrary to Mayor Nutter's plans - are significant and many, according to Free Library President and Director Siobhan Reardon.

For one thing, the city last weekend shoveled out overtime - costing the city yet more money that it doesn't have. For another, staffing shortages make it uncertain whether 20 libraries will be able to open this week.

For more, read on from an email Reardon sent to staff this morning:

"Good morning everyone: 

Bob Heim, Joe McPeak and I met with Friends presidents and other community leaders on Saturday to review with them the impact of Judge Fox’s injunction on the library system. The public may be asking you questions about this today. The Mayor was in attendance. 

This morning the City will be asking the Judge to vacate her decision to open the 11 libraries due to the hardship on the library system in getting all 53 libraries open and operating 

Under the assumption the judge does not stay her decision, the City will be prepared to appeal the order. 

In the meantime, the library was able to open all libraries on Friday and Saturday through the use of overtime. We will not be able to use overtime after this weekend to get the libraries open when there is a shortage. 

We expect that there will be at least 20 libraries that will be challenged to open during this coming week due to staffing shortages 

Senior staff are in the process of putting together plans, for the Trustees to review, which will reduce days of service system-wide. This will be necessary in order to comply with the judge’s order and set up a sustainable service model. We believe it will be a combination of 4 and 3 days across the system for now. 

It is important to remember that we structured a system – and therefore staffing requirements – with the understanding that we would be down 11 libraries to operate. We used the savings in overhead costs on these 11 libraries to save positions. With the reopening of the libraries, we have to restore the budgets for library materials, etc. and eventually will have to layoff additional positions. We will not move into layoff mode until we know better whether we will be allowed to close or be required to keep open the 11 libraries. The additional positions are helping with the hybrid model versus dropping to three days across the board.

I’ll keep you informed as we know more."

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