On Thursday, January 15, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria gave the annual State of the City address outlining his proposals and priorities for the coming year.
His address follows a difficult budgetary cycle for fiscal year 2026. Unfortunately, the San Diego Public Library was conspicuously absent in Mayor Gloria’s comments about building, transforming, and investing in San Diego.
When the Mayor proposes funding the City of San Diego based on who we are today and how we’re moving forward tomorrow, not funding based on where we were 30 years ago, I agree!
Sadly, the San Diego Public Library is funded too closely to the level it was funded three decades ago. To be clear, the City of San Diego is not moving forward when it comes to funding for libraries, parks, and arts in San Diego. We are asking for a full-time Library department that keeps all 37 locations open seven days a week – 37⁄7.
We are encouraged that Mayor Gloria is pushing for more housing, which we all know this City desperately needs. Yet building housing without incorporating the services that support these communities, such as the Public Library, is short-sighted.
Libraries and librarians are on the front line serving unhoused, underhoused, and under-resourced individuals. It is imperative that funding discussions include support for those in libraries, providing critical support as well.
We encourage library advocates, champions, and supporters to continue to come out and support our Library system as it needs all the help we can — again, with the goal of returning to a full-time Library department. Every day that a library location is closed, there are lost opportunities for students, job seekers, families, and neighbors who depend on their public library.
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