>> THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER, KCCI 8 NEWS AT 6:00. STACEY: IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR DES MOINES PUBLIC LIBRARIES. STEVE: THEY ARE RESTORING AND EXPANDING HOURS ON JULY FIRST THANKS TO THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX INCREASE. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS HERE NOW WITH THE FIRST AND MOST VISIBLE IMPACT OF THE PENNY-TAX WHICH BEGINS ON MONDAY TODD: THE DES MOINES LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS LIVED WITH TOUGH CUTBACKS FOR THE PAST DECADE THANKS TO TIGHT CITY BUDGETS. IN FACT EACH OF 6 LIBRARIES BRANCHES HAD TO CLOSE AN EXTRA DAY OF THE WEEK AND CUT BACK EVENING HOURS. NOW THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANG >> THIS IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE RESTORING HOURS, WE ARE EXPANDING HOURS. TODD: DES MOINES LIBRARY DIRECTOR SUSAN WOODY HAS TO USE A KEY TO GET IN THE BACK DOOR OF THE FRANKLIN AVE LIBRARY. THAT’S BECAUSE THE BUILDING HAS BEEN CLOSED EVERY THURSDAY FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. A DAY WHEN KIDS CAN’T CHECK OUT BOOKS, A DAY WHEN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM CAN’T DO IT’S JOB. >> PEOPLE STILL TO THIS DAY STILL COME UP TO THE DOORS ARE CURIOUS, WHAT’S GOING ON. WHY ISN’T THE LIBRARY OPEN, THEY LOOK AT THE HOURS, SAY THAT’S WEIRD, AND LEAVE. TODD BUT NOW WOODY HAS A REASON : TO CELEBRATE. THANKS TO $37 MILLION THAT WILL BEGIN POURING INTO CITY COFFERS JULY FIRST. REOPENING SIX DES MOINES LIBRARY BRANCHES WILL BE THE FIRST, VISIBLE SIGN OF THE SALES TAX VOTE. IT’S A DISTINCTION WOODY BEGGED CITY LEADERS TO APPROV >> PLEASE, LET US DO THIS EFFECTIVE JULY FIRST. WE DON’T WANT TO WAIT ANY LONGER. TODD SO NOW ALL LIBRARIES : BRANCHES WILL BE OPEN MORE DAYS AND LONGER HOURS. THE LIBRARY HAS SPENT WEEKS HIRING MORE STAFF. AND WOODY WANTS TO THANK DM RESIDENTS WHO VOTED FOR PROGRESS. >> WE ARE HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES AND THIS IS REALLY EXCITING FOR US TO HAVE OUR WORK FORCE SO BEEFED UP AND SO VIRBRANT, A SO EXCITED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. TODD THE LIBRARY SAYS IT ONLY : GOT AN EXTRA $350,000 FROM THE $37 MILLION SALES TAX WINDFALL. BUT THAT IS ENOUGH TO HELP RESTORE LIBRARY HOURS