On June 10th, the San Diego City Council approved a Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, which reversed some proposed cuts to libraries.
The initial version of the budget would have closed all 37 City of San Diego Public Library locations on Sundays and Mondays. This budget restores Monday hours at 16 of the City’s 37 branches and leaves the Sunday library closures in place.
The 16 library locations slated for Monday service are Allied Gardens/Benjamin, Carmel Valley, City Heights/Weingart, College-Rolando, Linda Vista, Logan Heights, Mira Mesa, North Park, Oak Park, Point Loma/Hervey, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, San Ysidro, Skyline Hills, University Heights, and Valencia Park/Malcolm X.
Mayor Todd Gloria has five days to either sign the budget or to issue line-item vetoes.
“During this year’s budget season, San Diego Public Library advocates made it crystal clear that they did not want the Library to be closed two days a week. The postcards, emails, calls and public comments at City Council meetings directly influenced the FY 26 budget the City Council approved yesterday — which restores library hours on Mondays,” said Patrick Stewart, CEO of Library Foundation SD.
“We are grateful for the thousands of advocates who spoke up and shared personal stories about the importance of library access to their communities. Libraries, in alliance with parks, recreation centers and the arts, are vital to support and strengthen San Diego.”
