Changes to opening hours for libraries in Wednesfield

From 31st March 2014 all of our local libraries will have reduced opening hours.

Wednesfield library will be open for 35 hours a week, Ashmore Park 24 hours a week  and Long Knowle just 15 – which is an improvement on the original proposal for this library to become self service only.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “We have worked hard to come up with new opening times which will suit the greatest number of people, and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to complete a short survey which helped us identify the best times to open each individual branch.

“We’ve also listened carefully to comments about Long Knowle Library, which was originally intended to become self-service only, and have agreed that it should be staffed for part of the week.

“By reducing library opening hours, we have been able to make vital savings while also keeping libraries open at the times when most people want to use them – and I hope that customers agree it is better to have libraries with reduced opening hours than to not have one at all.

“Furthermore, we’re introducing self-service machines into all of our branch libraries which don’t already have them over the next few months which may enable us to open libraries for longer than anticipated. We’re also working with volunteers to establish Friends groups and, together, these should enable us to open the libraries for longer, particularly those within community hubs.”