Proposed changes to opening hours for libraries in Gosport Borough

We have a key library in each district council area across Hampshire. This library will be a central hub, supporting the smaller libraries in the district. Our goal is for the 11 key libraries to be open for at least 50 hours per week, 6 days a week.

The other libraries in each district have been designated as large, medium, small or neighbourhood. Each designation has a minimum number of opening hours and all will be closed at least one day a week.

Gosport Discovery Centre

Gosport Discovery Centre is designated as a key library.
There are no proposed changes.

Number of responses
7

Feedback

Range from happy there are no changes to reduce Gosport DC opening hours to use the savings to retain the hours at the smaller libraries

Day	Opening hours
Monday	9.30am-7pm
Tuesday	9.30am-7pm
Wednesday	9.30am-7pm
Thursday	9.30am-7pm
Friday	9.30am-7pm
Saturday	9am-4.30pm
Total hours	55 hours

Comments

Gosport Discovery Centre is designated as a key library and no changes to opening hours are proposed.

Elson Library

Elson is designated as a small library.

Number of responses	Agree with proposal	Disagree
112	19 (17%)	93 (83%)

Feedback

A significant 83% of those responding disagreed with proposals, of whom 35% wanted to keep current hours, 27% wanted to keep Monday opening and 32% wanted to keep the late night. There was no consensus on how to achieve this, but suggestions included opening at 10 instead of 9.30, closing lunchtimes and having two half days. The staff justification for retaining Monday opening suggests that Monday is the busiest day of the week with regards to footfall. Gosport Borough Council expressed their concern at losing the late night.

Day	Current hours	Proposed hours	Revised proposal
Monday	9.30am-1pm	Closed	Retain current opening hours
Tuesday	9.30am-7pm	9.30am-5pm	Retain current opening hours
Wednesday	closed	Closed	Retain current opening hours
Thursday	9.30am-5pm	9.30am-5pm	Retain current opening hours
Friday	9.30am-5pm	9.30am-5pm	Retain current opening hours
Saturday	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	Retain current opening hours
Total hours	31.5 hours	26 hours

Comments

A campaign by staff at Elson has resulted in increases in usage both in terms of the number of visits to the library and in the number of items borrowed. Based on this and in line with customer and staff feedback the current opening hours will be retained to enable the project to develop further. Savings required will be found elsewhere as there is no capacity to make efficiencies at Elson.

Lee-on-the-Solent Library

Lee-on-the-Solent is designated as a small library.

Number of responses	Agree with proposal	Disagree
173	77(44%)	96 (56%)

Feedback

78% of those who disagreed wanted to retain the late night and 30% proposed achieving this by opening later each day. Gosport Borough Council expressed their concern at losing the late night.

Day	Current hours	Proposed hours	Revised proposal
Monday	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	10am-1pm
Tuesday	9.30am-5pm	9.30am-5pm	10am-5pm
Wednesday	closed	closed	closed
Thursday	9.30am-7pm	9.30am-5pm	10am-7pm
Friday	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	10am-1pm
Saturday	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm
Total hours	27.5 hours	25.5 hours	25.5 hours

Comments

Based on customer feedback the late night will be retained by opening at 10am rather than 9:30am, except for Saturdays

Bridgemary Library

Bridgemary is designated as a neighbourhood library

Number of responses	Agree with proposal	Disagree
123	24 (19%)	99 (81%)

Feedback

Of those who disagreed 29% wanted no change, 19% wanted to retain the Thursday morning opening and 5% wanted at least one all day opening. Staff put forward a justification for retaining the Thursday morning opening as it is the busiest morning of the week.

Day	Current hours	Proposed hours	Revised hours
Monday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm	2pm-5pm	2pm-5pm
Tuesday	10am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm
Wednesday	Closed	Closed	Closed
Thursday	10am-1pm & 2pm-7pm	2pm-7pm	9.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 7pm
Friday	10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm
Saturday	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm	9.30am-1pm
Total hours	26.5 hours	18.5 hours	22 hours

Comments

Based on customer feedback and staff justification Thursday morning will be retained. Savings will be made through efficiencies identified as part of the consultation. Lunch time opening remains an aspiration for the future.

Documents

Your comments

Consultation has now closed. We would like to thank everyone who has commented on the proposals. The comments received will be taken into account when the proposed changes to opening hours are reviewed in early January 2012. The reviewed changes to opening hours will be made public in mid January, but will be subject to the approval of the Executive Member for Culture and Recreation on 20 January 2012.