New opening times are set to be introduced in libraries across County Durham from January, when mobile library services will also change.
The measures will enable Durham County Council to make required savings of £1.457m without the need to close any library buildings.
Earlier this year, the authority agreed to reduce opening hours and make them consistent across the county. It means that all 12 town centre libraries, excluding Clayport, in Durham, will open for a core of 36 hours per week, with the council’s 27 community libraries operating a core of 20 hours.
The changes follow a public consultation earlier this year, which saw more than 91 per cent of Citizen’s Panel members support proposals to reduce opening hours rather than close libraries.
A further consultation gave library users the opportunity to help decide on specific opening times for each individual library.
The mobile library service, which saw membership fall by 55 per cent between March 2008 and March 2011, will now only visit communities at least three miles from a library building, with only one halt in each settlement the library visits.
Cllr Maria Plews, the Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “These changes are necessary if we are to make the savings required of us.
“I am pleased that we have been able to involve users of the library service throughout the process, both in influencing our overall strategy and in deciding on specific opening times for their local facility.”
The changes will come into effect on Wednesday, 2nd January, when new phone numbers are also being introduced at all libraries. Information on the new opening times, mobile routes and phone numbers is available in branch libraries, on mobile libraries and online at www.durham.gov.uk/libraries
