My name is Bridget Esqueda. I am the acting-in-capacity City Librarian for the Salem Public Library. This letter is to tell you we will be modifying library hours in order to operate within our current staffing capacity and resources. This will start on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

New hours at the Main Library will be:

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday

New hours for the West Salem Branch will be:

• 1-6 p.m. Tuesday 
• 12-5 p.m. Saturday 

Ongoing challenges have led us to change our operations and services to help sustain our library’s longevity and preserve the core resources that define us. We understand the pivotal role the library plays in fostering early literacy, learning, exploration, and connection. For the past several months, the library has been operating at regular operating hours and providing regular scheduled programs and services with 20 percent less staff. The impacts of this have been felt throughout our whole organization. To provide the best possible level of service to our community and decrease the stress and workload on staff and management, we must reduce service hours. We recognize that any alteration in our services will inconvenience our community. For that I extend our sincerest apologies. The adjustments made were done with the utmost consideration for minimizing disruption and maximizing our ongoing impact.

The essence of a library does not lie just in its books, but in the knowledge, community, resources, and personal growth it provides and the staff members who provide it. Our dedication to serving you remains unwavering. We are committed to finding innovative ways to continue delivering essential resources, fostering a love of reading and of literature, supporting education, and promoting a sense of togetherness within our community.

Your support and understanding during this transition period are invaluable to us. We welcome your feedback, suggestions, and thoughts as we navigate these challenging times together. Our primary goal remains rooted in serving you to the best of our abilities. Thank you for your continued support, patronage, understanding, and belief in the power of libraries to transform lives.

With warmest regards,
Bridget Esqueda
Acting-in-Capacity City Librarian