Nenagh Library to pilot 'My Open Library' initiative

Nenagh Library will pilot the 'My Open Library' initiative, announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

The ambitious five-year Library Strategy includes the complete abolition of library fines and the roll out of the 'My Open Library' initiative, which will see a significant increase in library opening times in 100 of the 330 library branches around the country.

Senator Maria Byrne said: ““This is great news for library users in Nenagh, Birdhill and Newport. With the abolition of all fines and increased opening hours in many of our local libraries, I hope that more people will visit and use their local libraries.

“The libraries involved in the My Open Library initiative will see library opening hours increase from current normal working hours to: 8am -10pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Libraries will continue to be fully staffed during the normal working hours and there will be no decrease in staffing hours under this arrangement.

"Nenagh Library will be one of the initial tranche of libraries in which My Open Library will be rolled out and the extended opening hours will be implemented by autumn of this year. The remaining libraries to avail of the initiative will be identified and during the course of the strategy and I hope to see more libraries in Tipperary benefitting from this wonderful initiative.

“The increase in opening hours is made possible by the provision of self-service technology; library users will be able to scan books in and out when the libraries are unmanned. Libraries will continue to be fully staffed during normal working hours.

“Last year, Minister Ring allocated €3.4 million for self-service technology, books and hot desking facilities in preparation for the rollout of this strategy. Local authorities invested a further €1.2 million. I know there will be further investment by Minister Ring in library buildings, improving services and technology in order to ensure that our libraries thrive."

Minister Ring said: “By introducing these measures, I am working to ensure active library membership from 16% of the population to 30% by 2022. This strategy focuses on removing barriers to access by eliminating fines and other charges, and challenging the belief that the library is only for certain sectors of society.

“Our Public Libraries 2022– Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities is a progressive strategy which aims to improve access, use and visibility of the library as a community hub, and develop the library as a focal point for community and cultural development.”