Tuesday will be the first day of reduced operating hours at some branches of the New York Public Library. The libraries are cutting hours to close budget gaps, and officials say that the reduced hours are a result of "difficult choices," and that many branches will be operating with very limited staffing.

On average, the affected locations will be open about 46 hours a week, an 11 percent reduction from last year. The library administration determined scheduling changes by a number of factors, including library attendance and proximity to other branches.