Library hours to shorten

Gosford Council officers have recommended earlier closing times and shorter hours for Woy Woy and Umina libraries.

The two libraries would be open for a total of 5.5 hours less than currently.

Council officers said that the changes were suggested as there was "little use made of the library during the suggested hours of closure".

Library management has recommended longer opening hours at the branches where there is greater demand.

Umina Beach Library would be open for only 46.5 hours each week as opposed to the current 51 hours.

Woy Woy Library would be open for 51 hours a week as opposed to the current 52 hours.

Woy Woy Library would close at 5.30pm instead of 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

It would open at noon instead of 1pm on Sunday.

Umina Beach Library would close at 5.30pm instead of 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

It would close at 5.30pm instead of 8pm on Tuesday.

A council staff report stated that there would be a fringe benefit of providing staff with more family friendly hours, minimising risk, improving staff productivity and standardising hours.

It stated that: "Library Management has made the hours as consistent as possible to make it easier to roster staff and so that customers will find it easier to remember when branches are open".

The proposed library hours of opening would commence on Monday, May 5.

Council agenda SF.46, 26 Feb 2008