The City of Long Beach announced the reopening of The Billie Jean King Main Library to visitors this Thursday, Oct. 20 following a temporary closure. The Main Library will maintain special operating hours through Nov. 1 and return to regular operating hours starting Nov. 2, the City announced in a statement Wednesday.
Starting Sept. 23, the library transitioned to to-go services only and closed the interior for public use. Additionally, library staff directed residents to satellite branches for other library services. The temporary closure was enacted to address security staffing levels and specialized library staff training.
According to the City’s statement, the library had to create a temporary security plan to meet the needs of the facility until a long-term plan was finalized to ensure the library continued to serve as a “positive and inspiring environment for all who entered the doors.”
This security plan was needed due to “mental health challenges that many are experiencing locally and throughout the country,” which was taking a toll on the high-volume downtown facility.
Additionally, the City said it will continue to develop strategies to manage individual events of visitors with unresolved trauma, medical issues and mental health challenges negatively impacting other library patrons and staff.
Through this process, the City “emphasizes that the Long Beach Public Library system is a safe place for community members” and welcomes all patrons.
The City also acknowledged the increased mental health concerns affecting individuals locally and nationally since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said the Department of Health and Human Services is working to create more mental illness prevention and treatment access in Long Beach.
The library’s special operating hours—subject to change—are currently as follows:
- Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesdays, noon to 4 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
