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Cerritos Library to close Sundays starting Nov. 9 as part of FY 2025–26 budget adjustments
Summary
City staff reported a $5.626 million FY 2025–26 library operating budget and recommended closing the Cerritos Library one day per week. Council discussion and public comments followed; staff said the Sunday closure (effective Nov. 9, 2025) is expected to save about $200,000 and will not result in staff layoffs.
City staff presented an informational report on Oct. 27 detailing the Cerritos Library’s FY 2025–26 operating budget of $5,626,151 and projected revenues of $197,720. The report addressed a council direction to reduce the city’s overall budget deficit and described a proposed change to the library schedule: effective Nov. 9, 2025, the library would be closed on Sundays.
Library Services Manager Eric Cardoso summarized visitation data and said staff identified Sunday as the day with the lowest attendance. Staff estimated the closure would save about $200,000 in FY 2025–26 and confirmed no library employees would be laid off as a result of the schedule change. Cardoso also noted uncertainty in the book‑vendor market after the announced closure of Baker & Taylor and told the council staff would research replacement vendors and adjust purchases within any direction from council.
Residents and community representatives spoke during public comment. Catherine Pasquale and other residents urged the council to consider making any Sunday closure temporary and highlighted the library’s regional draw and recent national attention (a reboot of Reading Rainbow referenced the facility). Several councilmembers expressed pride in the library while acknowledging budget constraints. Councilmembers said they would seek ways to return Sunday hours if the city secures additional revenue, including exploring a voter‑approved sales tax measure.
Staff recommended the council receive the report and directed that the library be closed on Sundays beginning Nov. 9; the item was discussed and public comment was taken but there was no roll‑call adoption recorded at the meeting. Cardoso told the council the library’s operations and maintenance line items were largely unchanged and that staff would implement the closure without layoffs and would pursue vendor alternatives for book purchases in light of the Baker & Taylor announcement.
Councilmembers urged staff to reconvene with options to restore hours if new revenue is secured and to communicate the change and available services to patrons during the transition.
