Being on my own with the children, the library is an important social and economical way of entertaining the children. There are various different activities they enjoy and it is a safe and warm environment. If it was only open half of the week this would impact financially as I do not have the money to take them to the bigger clubs which would result in isolation for all of us. During the winter months when the heating is on more we would sometimes spend an hour after school in the library where it was warm to save on the heating bill at home. The library is a community facility and should be available at all times not only on selected days. It would be a great loss to the whole community
I often go in on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Hard to remember when the library is open if it's alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays. If Tuesday is busiest might be better opening then.
It's difficult enough for people who work during the day to visit the library without further restricting opening times. I only managed to visit on days that I work from home and finish work before 16:30. You should be encouraging people to use the libraries, not making it more difficult. What about a later closing time? Even 6pm once a week or fortnight might help. Restricting access to libraries is incredibly short sighted, perhaps even discriminatory for those who can't afford to buy books. Fortunately I can afford to, but I'm sure there are many who cannot.
I rely on the library computers for printing and photocopier as well - for both college work and church stuff, aside from the I am likely going to need the library on Mondays and Tuesday to work on college stuff because I am in the classes the other days of the week, I also use both the computers and printer/copier for church stuff. And while you coukd argue that I can go in on Saturdays - with the current opening hrs Beith library has hardly been open on a Saturday since Easter!
And to say use the argument that other libraries in the area are open is point less because unless you have a car even travelling to Kilbirnie or Dalry library can take a significant amount of time and bus times don't really work with when the libraries are open!
Being on my own with the children, the library is an important social and economical way of entertaining the children. There are various different activities they enjoy and it is a safe and warm environment. If it was only open half of the week this would impact financially as I do not have the money to take them to the bigger clubs which would result in isolation for all of us. During the winter months when the heating is on more we would sometimes spend an hour after school in the library where it was warm to save on the heating bill at home. The library is a community facility and should be available at all times not only on selected days. It would be a great loss to the whole community
Opening hours too limited to be practical around work
I often go in on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Hard to remember when the library is open if it's alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays. If Tuesday is busiest might be better opening then.
It's difficult enough for people who work during the day to visit the library without further restricting opening times. I only managed to visit on days that I work from home and finish work before 16:30. You should be encouraging people to use the libraries, not making it more difficult. What about a later closing time? Even 6pm once a week or fortnight might help. Restricting access to libraries is incredibly short sighted, perhaps even discriminatory for those who can't afford to buy books. Fortunately I can afford to, but I'm sure there are many who cannot.
I rely on the library computers for printing and photocopier as well - for both college work and church stuff, aside from the I am likely going to need the library on Mondays and Tuesday to work on college stuff because I am in the classes the other days of the week, I also use both the computers and printer/copier for church stuff. And while you coukd argue that I can go in on Saturdays - with the current opening hrs Beith library has hardly been open on a Saturday since Easter!
And to say use the argument that other libraries in the area are open is point less because unless you have a car even travelling to Kilbirnie or Dalry library can take a significant amount of time and bus times don't really work with when the libraries are open!