BPL Furloughing 158 Library Employees Due to Financial Impact of COVID-19

The Birmingham Public Library has announced the furlough of 158 full and part-time library employees due to a city financial shortfall of $63 million caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was made by the BPL Board of Trustees during a special called meeting held Friday, September 18, 2020. In a statement, BPL Executive Director Floyd Council said this difficult decision was not easy, but was necessary to move to a reduced staffing model and be fiscally responsible to City of Birmingham taxpayers.

"It is with sad disappointment that Library Administration had to recommend to the Library Board of Trustees for the approval to furlough 158 of our valuable employees,” Council said." 

During these difficult COVID-19 and challenging economic times, public libraries and BPL are more relevant and needed now than ever before.” 

Although the BPL Board of Trustees announced last week that Eastwood Branch Library will be permanently closed, the library board has not made a decision about closing any of the remaining 18 library locations. Council announced that the Central Library downtown will re-open to the public for in-person service starting on October 1, 2020. 

Regional curbside service will continue, but all other library branch locations will remain closed for now.

BPL Curbside Library Service Expanding to Central, Continuing at 4 Regional Libraries 

Since BPL began offering curbside pickup of new library materials in early June 2020, more than 18,400 books, DVDs and other items were checked out by patrons at the four regional libraries – Avondale, Five Points West, North Birmingham and Springville Road. 

Starting Monday, September 21, the Central Library will begin offering a drive-up curbside pickup service allowing patrons to pick up new library materials and drop off old items. Curbside service will continue at the four regional libraries at the current hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through September 25, 2020. 

After September 25, curbside services at the four regional libraries will continue Monday through Fridays based on staffing and “operational abilities,” Council said. 

Click here for information on how BPL’s curbside services work https://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2020/09/curbside-pickup-of-library-materials.html

Details are still being worked out regarding how the Central Library will handle in-person service starting October 1. 

COVID-19 safety protocols will be put in place to ensure the health and well-being of BPL staff and patrons, said BPL Deputy Director Janine Langston. In-person service details including days and hours of operation will be provided to the public soon. Council said BPL’s commitment to providing valuable, quality services to citizen of Birmingham will remain in place.

“We are now focused on employee furlough aftercare and reopening Central Library to start recovery for future plans of service beyond COVID-19,” Council said.