The La Jolla/Riford Library’s Saturday hours are safe for at least the next fiscal year thanks to donations from local philanthropists.
Up until recently, La Jolla was among four city library branches slated to have its Saturday hours cut in half as part of citywide budget cuts, the others being in Point Loma, downtown San Diego and Rancho Bernardo.
But Mark Mann, president of Friends of the La Jolla Library, which helps the library through fundraising and volunteering, told the La Jolla Light this week that the group secured funding through anonymous donors to maintain its Saturday hours. The Friends board formalized its agreement to use those funds to keep the local branch open at normal operating hours on Saturdays, during a private meeting on Aug. 19, just 10 days before what would have been the library’s first day at half hours on Aug. 29.
“We’re pleased that we’ll be able to retain our Saturday hours for our patrons and for the people in the community we serve,” he added. The La Jolla/Riford Library’s current Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will remain that way through summer 2027.
Mann declined to provide additional details on how much was raised and how many philanthropists were involved.
The proposed reduction came during the city of San Diego’s early attempts to draft a balanced budget amidst a projected $146 million deficit.
In April, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria proposed cutting the La Jolla library’s Saturday hours entirely.
At the time, Mann expressed disappointment in having to “endure further cuts to our already-reduced operating hours,” but remained optimistic about the board saving its Saturday hours.
Gloria revised his budget plan in May to recommend cutting Saturday library hours in half at six city branches, including La Jolla.
The following weeks of debate and negotiations culminated June 9 with the San Diego City Council adopting a compromise budget for the next fiscal year that includes moves to at least partially reverse cuts Gloria proposed. A day later, Gloria himself OK’d the budget despite some reservations.
This marks the second year in a row that philanthropists stepped in to maintain La Jolla/Riford Library’s hours, with their efforts shepherded by the Friends of La Jolla Library.
In 2025, La Jolla was one of the city’s 20 library branches slated to lose its Monday hours, but the Friends of the La Jolla Library secured the funds from private donations.
At the time, board chairman Chris Hallman described the La Jolla/Riford Library as a “community treasure” that offers resources appreciated by residents and visitors alike.
Mann confirmed that Friends still has one year of funding left for funding the library’s Monday library hours. However, the recently funded Saturday hours will be be on the block again next budget cycle.