There are big losers and small winners for users of the Milwaukee Public Library next year.

Budget woes mean the library (again) had to reduce hours.  It looks like the good folks at MPL implemented more standardized hours for some of the libraries, so a couple of them with morning hours, like Washington Park, lost those and those that opened at 1 p.m. on some days will open at 12:30 p.m. instead. 

The biggest losers will be patrons of the Washington Park and Zablocki branch libraries, which will each be open 11 fewer hours per week next year.

The Mill Road branch also will take the 11-hour hit, but that will be mitigated somewhat by year-round Saturday hours. Right now, Saturday hours are offered September through May, according to the library’s 2008 schedules. The 2009 schedule does not show seasonal limitations on Saturday hours.

Also gaining year-round Saturday hours are the Center Street, Forest Home, Martin Luther King, Tippecanoe and Villard Ave. branch libraries. The Forest Home, MLK, Tippecanoe and Villard libraries will add an additional 1.5 service hours per week on top of the Saturday increase. Atkinson also will be open an additional 1.5 hours per week.

The Central Library, that monument to knowledge, will be open six fewer hours per week next year. Sigh.

There will be no changes at the Bay View, Capitol and East branches. The Central Library drive-thru will be open one hour less per week.

Here’s next year’s schedule.