Recent articles and editorials in the Tribune prompt me to give your readers assurance that the Chicago Public Library shall continue to provide excellent service to the citizens of Chicago despite current budget restraints.
While it is true the hours of service in neighborhood branches will be reduced to 48 hours in full-service branches and to 40 in smaller branches, there shall be adequate staff per hours of service, and each branch with the input of the community will determine the specific hours of service. In addition, the opening of the Harold Washington Library Center means better support for the neighborhood branches.
Central library materials that have been in storage and inaccessible will now be available for inter-library loan; fax equipment will be available for sending branch requests; each reference library will have a terminal for quick five-minute database searches for branch patrons. Also, delivery and mail service should improve because all inter-agency delivery services will be centralized at the Harold Washington Library Center.
There will be a department that will coordinate and expand programming and exhibits between the central library and the neighborhood services; public access catalogs for library patrons are now in place for the central library and in 1992 for the branches; a 60-person training classroom will be available for staff, including microcomputers, database and circulation/PAC system training.
Permit me to reiterate that the administration, board of directors and the staff shall remain committed to quality library service.
