New staffed opening hours for Hampshire Libraries
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Current staffed opening hours
Revised temporary opening times are currently in operation at each library to help us keep our branches COVID-secure and are linked below. Please check the opening days and times of your local library before visiting.Future staffed opening hours
New staffed opening hours will be implemented later in 2021 and customers will be updated about these in due course. These future staffed opening hours follow:
- an extensive public consultation on proposals to adapt the Library Service to the changing needs of customers, which took place from 9 January to 18 March. You can download the consultation analysis
- the decision by Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage Councillor Seán Woodward on 28 July to agree proposals to transform the Library Service to achieve savings of £1.76 million
- a further county-wide consultation on changes to staffed opening hours, which took place from 3 to 17 August
Alresford, Bishop’s Waltham and West End libraries – revisions to new staffed hours
Of the 4,446 responses received in the staffed opening hours consultation, 28% of respondents indicated that the new opening hours would not meet their needs. Following feedback from the consultation, the proposed new staffed hours for Alresford, Bishop’s Waltham and West End libraries were revised and their future staffed opening hours, which will be implemented later in 2021, will be:
- Alresford Library: close Monday 9.30am to 1.30pm and instead open Friday 1pm to 5pm
- Bishop’s Waltham Library: close Friday 9.30am to 1.30pm and instead open Friday 1pm to 5pm
- West End Library: close Tuesday 9.30am to 1.30pm and instead open Tuesday 1pm to 5pm
Feedback on suggested opening hours of all other libraries showed that the proposed opening hours would meet customers’ needs.
Council-run libraries closed at the end of 2020
Blackfield, Elson, Fair Oak, Horndean, Lee-on-the-Solent, Odiham and South Ham libraries ceased to be maintained by the County Council at the end of 2020. After a short closure many of these branches will transition to become Independent Community Libraries during 2021.
The library at Lyndhurst closed on 7 November 2020 to allow for refurbishment to take place for a new community space and independent community library, which will be opening in 2021.