Longer library opening hours in sight

By JACQUELINE HOGGE HOPES that library users in Tuam will be able to avail of longer opening hours were given a boost this week, with the news that plans are being worked on to reintroduce a late night at the facility.[private] County Librarian Pat McMahon confirmed this week that plans to open the library on one evening during the week are being developed but warned that several issues remained outstanding before this could be achieved. Cllr Imelda Kelly has raised the issue with Galway County Council in recent weeks and said she had been given an assurance that one late night would be introduced over the coming months. 'The old library on Shop Street was open two evenings a week, which facilitated those users who work during the day,' she said. 'While the new library is a fabulous facility, the lack of late-night opening is restrictive to these people, so there is definitely a need to extend the opening hours for one evening at least.' However, Mr McMahon said staffing issues were the biggest hurdle to extending the opening hours at the library. 'We are working to achieve late-night opening at Tuam library, which has seen a 15 per cent increase in book issues since it moved to its new home on High Street,' he said. 'The staff there have performed very, very well since the relocation, and the actual number of issues would be higher, if it weren't for the fact the library was closed for a month to accommodate the move to the new premises. 'Our intention is to offer one late night at the library but this has to be sustainable, so we're continuing in our efforts to see how we can achieve this.' Meanwhile, Cllr Kelly has also raised the future use of the former library building with council officials. 'This is a prime building in the centre of town, which is going to waste,' she said. 'I have been speaking with Galway County Council's Director of Services, Corporate and Cultural Affairs Unit Kevin Kelly and appealed to him to make the building available as a cultural arts centre for the town. 'A proposal from over 14 community and arts groups was submitted to the council last year regarding the use of the building. It doesn't seem likely the council will succeed in selling the building so while it remains a public building in the heart of the town, it is incumbent on Galway County Council to put it to public use, before it falls into rack and ruin.'[/private]