Increased opening hours for Marston Green Library

CHANGES: Under the current arrangements, Marston Green
Library only opens 17 hours a week, although this will rise to
20 from next Wednesday

MARSTON Green Library, which previously had its hours cut as part of a controversial cost-cutting drive, will now be opening for an extra half day a week.

In 2012, Solihull Council agreed that opening times would be reduced at the branch and nine others around the borough, saving £54,000 a year.

Several councillors appealed for the decision to be reversed, but the Tory administration argued that dwindling numbers of visitors had made the changes necessary.

Now almost two years after the reduced hours came into effect, there has been good news for residents in Marston Green.

Thanks to an innovative partnership with the council’s adult social care team, their local library is now set to open on Wednesday mornings, between 10am-1pm.

Visitors will be able to return, renew and borrow items using the self-service kiosks.

Printing and photocopying services will also be available and existing library card holders will be able to use the computers.

Councillor Joe Tildesley, cabinet member for education, skills and lifelong learning, said: “At a time when other councils in the country are closing libraries, it is fantastic to be able to enhance the service on offer to our residents, with three extra hours to access library services.”

The branch, in Land Lane, will continue to open Mondays and Thursdays (10am-1pm, 2-6pm), and Saturdays (10am-1pm). Wednesday opening will start a week tomorrow (January 14.)

A new leaf: The future of library services has been keenly debated by local authorities around the country. 324 libraries have closed nationwide since 2011 and a report last month warned that only a handful of facilities may remain in a decade’s time. In Solihull, councillors are yet to close a branch outright, but the cuts a few years ago were nonetheless controversial.

Officers have previously said that it was important to bring library services into the 21^st century and the multimedia complex at Chelmsley Wood, unveiled in 2009, was seen by some as a blueprint for the future. Although others speculate that the emphasis on a few flagship facilities will ultimately pave the way for the closure of the smaller community libraries.