Reno’s Downtown Library Faces Weekend Closure Amidst System-Wide Schedule Changes
The Washoe County Library’s downtown branch in Reno, known for its iconic design and lush atrium, will no longer operate on weekends starting after Presidents Day, as it nears its 60th anniversary.
Initially scheduled for implementation in July 2026, the Washoe County Library Board of Trustees has decided to advance the revised schedule, citing clarity for library users as a primary reason. Assistant County Manager Dave Solaro commented on the change, stating, “The fiscal impact is the same. And we feel we can actually start earlier to provide more consistent hours to the community, with the calendar year rather than a fiscal year. That always kind of throws people off.”
The revised schedule results in a reduction of operating hours across the library network, with varying effects on individual branches. Notably, while the Downtown Reno library will now only host special events on weekends, the Northwest Reno branch will begin weekend operations.
Ann Silver, Chair of the Library Board, initially hesitated about closing the downtown branch on weekends. Nevertheless, she supported the new schedule, expressing, “This is such an iconic setting and amazing library location. It’s sad that it wouldn’t be open at least for a few hours on a Saturday.”
Public Information Officer Jamie Hemingway linked the schedule changes to the 2024 voter rejection of a proposal to renew direct funding for the library. “It certainly is reflective right now of our previous staffing levels. We were being cautious, not knowing what the new budget was going to look like,” she explained. Hemingway also noted that variations in usage patterns, including the lack of free parking at the downtown branch, influenced the decision.
Safety concerns also played a role in the decision to eliminate Sunday hours, according to Collection Development Manager Debi Stears. The absence of on-site security on weekends, when deputies from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are not readily available, was a significant factor. “Reno Police Department can literally be across the street, and cannot enter the building,” Stears highlighted.
Meanwhile, the library board is in the process of hiring a new full-time library director. Once appointed, this individual may propose further schedule revisions.
