Due to California’s budget woes, San Quentin’s library hours have been reduced for the mainline population. The change resulted from cutting the library staff from three to two.
Staff Librarian Tom Brobst said he will keep the facility open under reduced hours, with Saturday hours eliminated.
More than 3,000 San Quentin prisoners use the library for legal, recreational and education al reading and research. Brobst said prisoner staff will continue to respond to written requests from Condemned Row.
Former hours for mainline prisoners were Monday through Saturday from 12:30–2:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.
The new hours are: Tuesday: mainline, 12:30–3 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m.
Wednesday: reception center, 8:30–12:30 a.m.; mainline, noon – 2:30 p.m.
Thursday: mainline, 12:30–3 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m.
Friday: reception center, 8:30–12:30 a.m.; mainline, noon–2:30 p.m.
The former evening and Saturday sessions were particularly important for prisoners who work during the day.