Cobb to start restoring Sunday library hours

Cobb officials say the county will start slowly restoring library Sunday library hours over the next three years. File Photo: Courtesy of Cobb County

Cobb officials say the county will start slowly restoring library Sunday library hours over the next three years. File Photo: Courtesy of Cobb County

Cobb will start restoring Sunday library hours at some branches for the first time since the recession starting September 9.

The Switzer Library in Marietta is scheduled to open from 1 to 5 p.m. the Sunday after Labor Day.

Plans are also underway to restore hours at three regional branches: Mountain View, South Cobb and West Cobb, according to county spokesperson Ross Cavitt.

Sunday hours were cut in 2010 as the county grappled with the fallout of the economic downturn.

The promise of bringing back Sunday hours was central to Chairman Mike Boyce's successful push to raise taxes.

Boyce said he hopes to fully restore Sunday library service to its pre-recession level over the next three years.

In the meantime, he intends to bring back a study that recommended consolidating some branches for a final decision by the Board of Commissioners.

“The board will either act on some of those recommendations or we’re going to put that study to bed forever,” Boyce said. “We cannot continue to use the libraries as our sacrificial lambs or fixing budgetary shortfalls.”