Sunday opening proposed for four libraries - Borough first in extended library hours pilot

For the first time ever Royal Borough libraries are set to open on Sundays as part of a year long pilot to test customer support.

Four libraries - Maidenhead, Windsor, Cox Green and Sunningdale container - will take part in the scheme which will also see extended opening hours on other days and will result in 26.5 extra library hours a week, 12 of them on a Sunday.

The pilot - planned to start in April 2013 and the result of public consultation - will be discussed by cabinet on Wednesday 24 October and will depend on the recruitment of enough additional volunteers to support library staff so they can cover all opening times across the week.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "Libraries remain one of our greatest community assets for entertainment, research and learning. That's why we need to be sure they are open when our residents want to use them.

"Consultation earlier this year showed that library customers value opening times outside the traditional office hours so we want to use our four-library pilot scheme to test popularity and then make a decision on whether we can roll out it out to other locations."

Cllr Dudley underlined that the success of the pilot would depend on two vital elements - enough volunteers and enough customers.

Consultation with library customers showed that 57% agreed with Sunday opening at Maidenhead, 53% at Windsor, 51% at Cox Green and 41% at Sunningdale container. Three options for Sunday opening hours were given, with the majority preferring 11am to 2pm.

To ensure that Sunday opening continues after the year's pilot, there would need to be about 70 hours a week of volunteer commitment and customer levels the same as for Saturdays.

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to contact volunteers.library@rbwm.gov.uk, visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_volunteering.htm or call 01628 796247.

Further consultation is to be carried out at Sunninghill and the new Dedworth libraries to clarify customer demand for opening hours (not currently offered) as they would have an impact on other opening times during the week.

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