Library opening times cut from this week

Users of Newtown and other libraries in the area will have to double-check the opening times from this week after Powys County Council cut operating hours as part of ongoing savings.

The mobile library services has also been affected by the changes, meaning many rural communities in the area that rely on the service will also see a cut.

Newtown Library will now be open between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; between 9.30am and 7pm on a Tuesday and 9.30am and 1pm on a Saturday.

It will be closed on Wednesdays.

The new opening times for Llanidloes Library are 10am to 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays; 3.30pm to 6pm on Tuesdays; 10am to 1pm on Fridays and 10am to 12noon on Saturdays.

It will be closed on Thursdays.

Montgomery Library's new opening hours are 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 5pm on Mondays; 10am to 12noon and 3pm to 7pm on Tuesdays; 10am to 12noon and 3pm to 5pm on Wednesdays; 9am to 5pm on Thursdays; 10am to 12noon and 3pm to 5pm on Fridays and 9.30am to 12noon on Saturdays.

The changes follow a decision by the council’s Cabinet to reduce operating hours to save library service costs by £350,000 during the 2015/16 financial year.

Stuart Mackintosh, the council’s Service Manager responsible for Library Services, said: “The changes to the opening hours and the mobile library service will help the council deliver the savings required.

“We reviewed existing usage patterns within the libraries to minimise the impact the reduction on opening hours would have on service users.  We will continue to investigate the possibility of co-locating some branch libraries with other council services or community operations.”

To find out the new opening hours of your local library or the timetable for the mobile library service, visit www.powys.gov.uk/libraries and go to ‘Find the nearest library’ or ‘Mobile library routes’.

Alternatively visit your local branch where copies of the opening times will be available.

The new times for mobile library routes can be found here: http://www.powys.gov.uk/en/libraries/view-mobile-library-routes/north-powys-mobile-library/