An opportunity arose in 2014 for Sligo County Council’s library service to engage in a pilot scheme to examine the feasibility of introducing the latest trend in library practice namely “Open Libraries”. This opportunity has been taken by Sligo County Council with a view to piloting the system in Tubbercurry Community Library beginning in November 2014 for a twelve month period.
The main aim of Open Libraries is to increase access for individuals and communities to public libraries and to improve library services. By increasing accessibility we hope to improve upon the availability of our services to a wider audience in the communities we serve; to audiences who for whatever reason are unable to do so within the current opening hours.
Where the Open Libraries model has been rolled out in Europe research has shown that new groups of users are able to utilise the services provided, in particular, on Sundays and late evenings.The Open Libraries pilot will make Tubbercurry library facility available to the Open Library members who are over 18 years of age between the hours of 8am to 10pm seven days a week. For users of the service who still wish to interact with a library staff member or Europe Direct Information Centre staff member, normal staffing times will remain the same from Tuesday to Saturday outside of which the library will be accessible to members who sign up for Open Libraries.
The pilot will take place throughout 2015 and as with any pilot the Open Library will be evaluated and adapted accordingly as the service is rolled out over the twelve months of the pilot.
For more information on how to register & use this service please contact Tubbercurry Community Library on 071 9111705.
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