South Wairarapa community feedback on the new library hours was tabled at the Infrastructure and Community Services meeting of 25 July. Elected members agreed that the new library hours did not meet community expectations so the service offerings are to be reviewed (as posted on Council’s website) by November 2023. A revised interim opening hours schedule is to be implemented that better meets the community’s expectations.

The changed library interim opening hours below are effective from 21 August 2023. This will stay in place for the period of the review and a new schedule, if required, put in place then.

We know that opening on a Saturday was important to many of those who provided feedback, so we have ensured all three libraries are open from 9.30am to 12pm on a Saturday. We have also simplified the closing days on a weekday and reduced it to just one day a week per site for the period of the review.

It should be noted that every effort will be made to keep to this schedule, however, in the case of staff not being available due to planned or unplanned leave, a library site may need to close for a time. Should this happen then we will make sure to let the public know as soon as practicable through the Council’s and the library’s websites and Facebook pages.

These library opening hours apply until further notice and will be kept up to date on the Wairarapa Library Service website and on both South Wairarapa and Carterton District Councils’ websites. Thank you to all those who provided feedback.