Library users in Butte County will get a few more hours under a reorganization plan approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Most of the changes will be behind the scenes as officials work to partially automate the sorting of returned materials. Automated borrowing stations will also appear.
The most important change for library customers is scheduling. Under the approved plan:
· Gridley’s branch, open only Thursday and Friday, will stay open an extra hour (until 5 p.m.) to better mesh with students needing homework help or access to research materials.
· Oroville’s branch will open an hour earlier Tuesday and Wednesday (10 a.m.) to aid visitors from rural areas making long trips.
· Paradise’s branch will stay open an extra hour Tuesday and Wednesday (until 7 p.m.) in consideration of those commuting long distances.
· Chico’s branch will open an hour earlier Tuesday (10 a.m.) and an hour later Thursday (11 a.m.) to better mesh the branch’s schedule with foot traffic.
· Hours at branches in Biggs and Durham won’t change.
The biggest change will roll out more slowly, and behind the scenes. Radio Frequency Identification units, or RFID tags will be attached to all library materials with the aim of trimming labor costs. Library Director Melanie Lightbody said the system should free librarians to read more stories to children, and focus more on outreach and literacy programs as opposed to sorting and re-shelving returned books and DVDs.
The RFID program will be mainly funded by money received as a bequest to the library.