Libraries to continue with new opening hours

FOLLOWING a trial of new library opening hours across Warrington, service provider LiveWire has decided to continue with the new hours in the current timetable, while also continuing to monitor use and customer feedback.

Over the last six weeks new opening hours have been trialled at nine libraries following a review of customer usage over the last year which looked at how many people accessed each library every day and identified each library’s quietest and busiest periods.

The review revealed that at some sites, just two users are accessing some libraries during their first half an hour of opening, with the hours of 6pm-7pm also among the quietest periods. It also found that some libraries that close for one day a week have the same or greater usage than those that only close
half day a week.

Westbrook, Penketh, Culcheth, Padgate, Birchwood, Stockton Heath, Lymm, Orford and Warrington Central libraries will continue with their new opening hours allowing LiveWire to provide better value for money and a more efficient service. Woolston Neighbourhood Hub Library and Burtonwood Library will still be unaffected by the changes.

Emma Hutchinson

The savings that LiveWire makes from the new opening hours will be reinvested into new technology to attract new customers and support online learning through the latest equipment and the E-library service, which allows members and students to access eBooks and a range of free online reference materials 24 hours a day.

The revised timetables are being introduced following a comprehensive consultation with more than 4,000 users and non-users of libraries. 46% of people surveyed who have stopped using the library or have never used the library said they now download or buy their books via the internet and that to stay relevant, libraries need to compliment today’s lifestyle and provide more digital services.

Emma Hutchinson, managing director of LiveWire, said: “During the trial period we have carefully monitored the amount of book issues, people’s network usage, customer complaints and financial impact the reduced opening hours have had and it has been decided that LiveWire will continue with the current opening hours for an interim period and continue to monitor customer usage and feedback over the next six months.

“Nationally, fewer people are physically visiting libraries, and Warrington is not unique in experiencing a continuing decrease of library visits and reduced opening have had no further impact in decreasing the number of visits in line with other periods.

“We have ensured that the new timetable gives good coverage across the town by providing alternative sites for users to access within the same neighbourhood on days when certain libraries are closed.”