The Public Hours vs. By Appointment Dilemma

Currently, we are open to the public for walk-in hours three full days a week. For a variety of reasons, I would really, really like to make my library "by appointment only." Staff and volunteers could continue to access the library whenever they like (as they do now); this would apply only to members and the public.

I'm the only staff person and every time I am on vacation, sick or my child is sick, I have to close the library. Of course, I post this closure on my phone message, our web site and with signage, but people might not check this before coming. You can imagine the irate phone messages and emails I receive when someone's made an effort to get here and we're closed. Honestly, I don't blame them.

As I mentioned, I'd like to make it appointment-only, but I feel like doing that would be as good as writing my own pink slip. We have just experienced the fifth round of layoffs at my museum in the seven years I been here. Each time this happens, I think: "How could they have possibly cut that person?" "There's no one left to take that on!" and "How are we going to get by?" I've already learned that hard work, seniority, likability and loyalty mean nothing. It really comes down to "Are you critical to the operation?" and "Will positive public perception deteriorate without the function you provide?"

In my case, having such open access to the public is part of my "critical" nature. Restricting this openness makes me seem less critical to the powers that be and perhaps to the general public.

What to do...