Dallas libraries will remain open with reduced staff and hours

The city of Dallas is no longer planning to close neighborhood library branches. Instead, it will lay off library employees and reduce hours to balance the budget.Dallas Library LayoffsThe latest version of the city’s proposed budget no longer includes the closure of any neighborhood library branches.But the city is now set to lay off 35 library employees, as well as eliminate a total of 72 positions. Neighborhood libraries will also be closed on Sundays and Mondays because of the cuts.Five flagship library locations, including Vickery Park, Hampton-Illinois, Fretz Park, Pleasant Grove, and Bachman Lake will remain open seven days a week."Keeping all the libraries open is great. And it shows that the city listened to the residents and in saying that it wanted to keep all of its branches [open]. But the $3.3 million cut is higher than what was expected," said Denise McGovern, with the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. "There's so many ways that the library benefits the city in infor