Council harmonised and increased the span of Library opening hours at its meeting on Monday 28 November.
The endorsed hours will see Council's five libraries extend to a combined total of 273 opening hours per week, with schedules better suited to the usage patterns of the community.
Library utilisation data and customer feedback on library opening hours was collected over a 15-month period from 1 February 2021 to 31 May 2022 and was used to guide Council's decision.
The new hours are as follows:
- Clive James and Hurstville Libraries to share identical opening times, with an increase in weekend hours from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays, in line with community usage
- Penshurst Library to stay open longer, for an additional nine hours each week, closing at 6.00pm on weekdays and 5.00pm on Saturdays
- Opening hours for Oatley and South Hurstville Libraries revised to accommodate morning programmes and after school needs, opening at 10.00am and closing at 6.00pm each weekday.
Mayor Nick Katris said the endorsed hours are designed to best meet the needs of the community.
"Our Libraries play an important role in our community. The resources and services they provide create opportunities for learning, they support literacy, and they serve as a place for our community to come together.
"Offering services aligned with the needs of our residents and visitors is key to fostering positive outcomes for our diverse community.
"I would like to thank the 634 community members who provided feedback during the consultation process."
The endorsed hours reflect the Libraries 2030 Strategy, which was approved by Council in May 2020. The Strategy established goals to guide the harmonisation of library hours and maximise community use.
Preparation for the staged implementation of the new library hours will begin in the new year.
