Library opening hours from July 2024

Dorset Council adopted the Dorset Library Strategy 2023 to 2033 on 25 July 2023. 

As part of library strategy development we asked our communities when they wanted our libraries to be open. Based on community feedback and identified community needs, we’ve updated our library opening hours. We will also update our activities and events timetable to align with these new hours. The new opening hours will come into effect on 1 July 2024. Community managed libraries are not changing their opening hours.

Consultation evidence and background

Our efficient operating model has allowed us to keep almost the same total staffed hours (630 instead of 631). We now have three types of libraries, each with a specific number of council-funded opening hours. These are:

• Library: 18 hours
• Library Plus: 30 hours
• Library Connect: 42 hours

Our goal in adjusting the hours is to address the priorities you shared with us during our consultation. You told us that you wanted:

• standard hours so that customers know when a library is open
• opening hours throughout the week Monday to Saturday
• mornings for:
  • pre-school children and their carers
  • retirees
  • those who do not work
  • those who work from home or work remotely from their workplace
• Saturdays and afternoon opening, for school age children and young people
• Saturdays, lunchtimes and evenings for those who work​
• a spread of hours amongst a geographical group of libraries. This is so that not all libraries in a geographical area close on the same weekdays
• times when the library is closed, and partners or community groups can hire it

We have designed a pattern of ‘standard shifts’ per type of library to help us to meet these priorities.

We have tried to make sure that libraries within the same geographical area have:

• different late nights until 6pm
• different closed days, so that customers can use a library in their area 6 days a week

Library opening hours