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Libraries Extend Opening Hours
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s libraries
are extending their opening hours from Monday 5th September. In a pilot
scheme that will operate until March 2006, Wigan Borough’s 16 libraries
will be open for an extra 50 hours per week.
The extended opening hours scheme is designed to encourage people who may
be unable to enjoy their local library during ‘normal’ opening hours. As
part of the libraries’ new vision, current non-users are being invited to
Explore the borough’s libraries at a time convenient to them, such as in
the evenings and at weekends.
“Weekends and evenings are the perfect time to get the best out a library.
There's no better way to relax, or to escape from a hard day’s work, than
to enjoy a great book, browse the Internet or attend a fun activity
session,” says writer, broadcaster and patron of Wigan Borough’s library
service Stuart Maconie. “It is vitally important that everyone gets the
opportunity to use a library. Libraries are no longer just a place to find
a book, you can now hire CDs and DVDs or go on your own voyage of
discovery via the People’s Network."
Some of the highlights of the new extended hours include:
• Ashton opening on a Sunday (9am - 1pm).
• Golborne opening an additional two evenings a week, Monday and Friday
(until 7pm).
• Beech Hill, Orrell and Shevington will open on Tuesday afternoons (1.30
– 7pm).
• Standish introducing an additional half day on a Friday (1.30 - 7pm).
“We are determined to give everyone the opportunity to use their local
library and want them to be used to their full potential. We are aware
that the old opening times may not have suited people who work during the
day or have other commitments. Hopefully the extended opening hours will
encourage more people to take advantage of the huge range of services the
libraries provide,” says Taryn Pearson, the Trust’s Head of Lifelong
Learning and Information.
2005 has seen the Borough’s library service implement a new ten-year
vision, including the launch of the new Explore brand (initially at
Golborne Library). The Explore brand aims to make libraries a more
welcoming, more accessible and more interesting place of discovery and
enjoyment. The new vision also includes increasing opening hours,
improving ICT (computer) facilities and provides a series of programmed
events that can encourage people to learn and take a more active role in
their community.
To find out more about your library’s opening hours or to discover what
activities are taking place near you, please call your local library
direct on one of the following numbers:
• Abram 01942 866350
• Ashton 01942 727119
• Aspull 01942 831303
• Atherton 01942 404817
• Beech Hill 01942 747750
• Golborne 01942 777800
• Hindley 01942 255287
• Ince 01942 324423
• Leigh 01942 404556
• Marsh Green 01942 760041
• Orrell 01942 705060
• Shevington 01257 252618
• Standish 01257 400496
• Tyldesley 01942 882504
• Wiend Children’s 01942 828104
• Wigan 01942 827621
You can also find out more about your local library service at
www.wlct.org/libraries
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
WIGAN LEISURE AND CULTURE TRUST: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support
Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for 300,000
residents across the Wigan Borough.
GETTING WIGAN ACTIVE: Getting Wigan Active is WLCT’s vision to ensure that
people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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