WESTBURY Library is to see a reduction in its opening hours of 5.5 hours per week following a review of library services by Wiltshire Council.
Libraries across the county are set to operate with new core opening hours after Wiltshire Council’s cabinet approved plans for the future of the library service. The decision will reduce the operating costs of Wiltshire libraries by 12% but enable all 31 libraries to stay open.
In a statement about the changes, Wiltshire Council said, “Local authorities across Britain are facing unprecedented pressure on their budgets and Wiltshire Council is taking steps to ensure it works with communities to protect front-line services.”
Wiltshire Council cabinet member for community services, John Thomson said, “We have reduced library hours based on when they are in use. The hours will tailor to 97% of when the libraries are used. These plans are to protect the main infrastructure of libraries. Should the budget approve the investment of the scanning systems then these changes will come into place in September.”
He explained that if volunteers wanted to come forward, the opening hours could be increased.
Sabina Edwards, community librarian for Westbury said, “The reduction is not just for Westbury, it’s throughout the county. The main aim is to maintain a good standard of service and it’s inevitable we have to take cuts, there’s no getting away from it. We’re very pleased to have retained the amount of hours we have, which is in line with other libraries the same size.”
The library is a key facility for people in Westbury, as Sabina explained. “It’s very well used and we’re very well supported which is brilliant. And we’ve got a very active service,” she said. “We’re in our infancy as to how the new structure is going to work, it’s only just taken place but we will continue to be active in the community and retain our core services.”
Situated in the town centre, Westbury Library is a busy centre of activity, and offers a wide range of services to the community. These currently include a range of books from contemporary to classics, books in large print, talking books, audio tapes, CDs and DVDs. There are also four computers with free internet access and a photocopier and fax machine. The library hosts many reading groups and schemes for both children and adults, as well as special activities and offers during school holidays.
Westbury Library is currently open on Mondays 10.00am-7.30pm, Tuesdays 9.30am-5.00pm, Thursdays 9.30am-7.30pm, Fridays 9.30am-5.00pm and Saturdays 9.00am-1.00pm. It is not yet known which opening hours will be affected by the cuts.
