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Report: Miami-Dade Library Closures Down To Just Four

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez revealed Thursday that the deep budget cuts will only close four libraries and not the worst case scenario of 22 libraries closing.

According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, libraries across the county will still have to shorten hours and have fewer librarians due to the deep budget cuts requested by the county commission and Mayor Gimenez.

In addition, while the total number of closures has dropped, the number of layoffs coming to the library system has not. According to the Herald, 192 library workers stand to lose their jobs, which is down from the original number of 251 proposed layoffs.

The current branches likely facing the budget axe include the system's Civic Center kiosk and three branch libraries in Country Walk, Sunset, and Tamiami. The list is still not finalized and won't be until after two public hearings on the budget in September.

The Herald reported that the Miami-Dade School board will seek to help soften the cuts by opening five school libraries to the public starting on the first day of classes.

Beginning Monday, the public will have access on weekdays to books, the Internet and other resources at media centers at the following locations: D.A. Dorsey Educational Center, 7100 NW 17th Ave., Lindsey Hopkins Technical Center, 750 NW 20th St., Miami Lakes Educational Center, 5780 NW 158th St., Miami Lakes; Robert Morgan Educational Center, 18180 SW 122nd Ave., and South Dade Educational Center, 109 NE Eighth St., Homestead.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)

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