Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

204. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the roll-out of unstaffed libraries; his further views on the important role of library staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38738/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The ‘My Open Library’ service is an initiative under Opportunities for All , the national public library strategy 2013-2017. It forms part of the overall strategy to address customer demand and grants members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at the hours that suit them best.

The initial ‘My Open Library’ pilot was introduced in Tullamore, Banagher and Tubbercurry libraries from November 2014. I am satisfied that the learning from the pilots, and the very positive feedback from library users, justifies extending the pilot phase to a further 23 library branches from January 2017. Learning from the extended pilot phase will inform and shape the future development and implementation of the service across the broader library network.

Feedback from users has been very positive. ‘My Open Library’ has made community spaces and collections available to library members and communities, providing access to commuters, students and families at times when the library would be otherwise unavailable. Each library running the service is now open to the community for 98 hours per week.

There will be no reduction in staffing levels or staffed hours as a result of the’ My Open Library service.’ Professional and skilled library staff are vital for a successful library service and my Department is working with local authorities to enhance staffing resources and extend staffed library hours.