For budgetary reasons last fall, the Miami-Dade County Library System reduced library hours across the county, including at the Sunny Isles Beach Branch Library. The library was able to reduce staff and cover one eight hour shift each day, but in the process completely eliminated service on one day. As a result, patrons who arrive on Fridays find the library completely closed.
This new arrangement did not make our residents or visitors happy. Vice- Mayor Lewis Thaler contacted the county library system to find out what our options were, and then with the City Manager negotiated a new agreement with the County to re-open our library branch on Friday afternoons. In November the City Commission passed this agreement to fund an additional 4 hours a week on Fridays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. The Miami-Dade County Commission ratified the agreement on January 23, 2012 and will move forward with staffing the library again on Fridays. That gives our residents back a six day a week local branch library to visit and enjoy.
The revised hours will begin on Friday, February 10, 2012 as follows:
• Monday, Tuesday, Saturday
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Wednesday, Thursday
12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Friday 2:00 – 6:00 pm
• Sunday, Closed
Special thanks go to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman for supporting the City and facilitating this change for the better.
