Library opening hours – you decide
November 8, 2011
The people of Warwickshire are being given the opportunity to decide on the opening hours of the county’s main libraries.
A comprehensive consultation gets underway on Monday, November 14, running for four weeks until Sunday, December 11, asking local people to decide on the opening hours of the following libraries:
- Alcester
- Atherstone
- Bedworth
- Coleshill
- Kenilworth
- Leamington
- Lillington
- Nuneaton
- Polesworth
- Rugby
- Shipston
- Southam
- Stratford
- Wellesbourne
- Whitnash
- Wolston
The consultation is on the future pattern of opening hours for libraries remaining under the Library and Information Service control.
The public consultation, offering two options, is available in paper and electronic formats. The majority vote from the public will decide the future opening hours of the library – the library customers will decide.
Proposed Library Opening Hours
There are two exceptions:Warwick’s new opening hours will match Shire Hall’s opening hours, and Stockingford’s opening hours will match those of the Early Years Centre.
The new opening hours will be introduced from March 31. More details will be available at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries and www.libraryconsult.wordpress.com
Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio-holder for Customers, Access and Physical Assets, said: “We have taken the decision that our customers will decide the opening hours of the libraries. The majority vote will be the option we go with.
“I’d therefore encourage as many people as possible to engage with this consultation, either via the web, or by popping in to your local library and completing a survey.”
Meanwhile, Warwickshire County Council continues to work closely with community groups around the county developing new community libraries. All of these should be open and operational by April 1, 2012.
The transformation of the Library and Information Service is a part of the general financial savings, where Warwickshire County Council must cut spending by more than £70 million over the next three years. As part of the savings plan, the Library and Information Service budget will reduce by £2 million.
