Los Angeles Public Libraries to Cut 150 Jobs

The most recent version of the Los Angeles budget, which was just approved by the city council, includes a 15% cut in the operating budget of the Los Angeles Public Library system. This equates to a 28% cut, about 150 people, in LAPL’s staff. Overall, some 328 full-time-equivalent positions will be eliminated: 100 through layoffs, and 200 through retirements and unfilled vacancies.

LAPL currently operates 73 libraries six days per week in L.A. county. The budget cuts will force a reduction to five days per week at many locations and an unspecified number of branches will close outright.