OPENING hours at the Cohuna public library will be standardised to avoid confusion.
Diminished patronage has prompted Gannawarra Shire Council to adjust the opening hours at Leitchville.
Council has endorsed a recommendation from community well-being director, Mandy Hutchinson to open the Cohuna library for four days per week from 10am to 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, plus Saturday morning between 10am and 12pm.
The library at Leitchville will now be closed on Thursday morning and opening hours on Tuesday will be increased from 1.30pm to 5.30pm.
Ms Hutchinson said that current opening hours at Cohuna were ad hoc and people find them difficult to remember.
“Recent changes in library processes have made increased face-to-face service possible,” she said.
Changes to library processes mean that staff can manage existing duties and customer service concurrently.
Ms Hutchinson said that the new opening times for four days plus two hours on Saturday will provide improve access, consistency of hours and opportunities for young people to visit the library after school. Tuesday is the preferred day for closing as it has the least number of loans per hours of opening.Leitchville patronage has declined markedly over the last few years, from 2033 visits in 2004/2005 to 778 visits in 2015/2016.
Thursday morning visits have fallen to an average of 13 visits per month, Ms Hutchinson said.
Council requested that Ms Hutchinson provide a review of the changes after six months.
