Consultation on cuts to North Ayrshire Library services

Users are being asked for their views on changes to the service, after a decision to cut some opening times was taken during this year's budget vote.

The new proposals see cuts in hours for most - but not all - libraries.

The consultation is open until July 23.

The North Ayrshire Council survey says: "We recognise that any change in opening hours has an impact on library users. This consultation is not about the principle of reducing opening hours, as that decision has been taken.

"The consultation is focused on the revised opening hours themselves, to give all library users the opportunity to have a say on the changes and make any suggestions."

It adds: "Each of our libraries is very different and has different demands placed on it via the local community or partner organisations. These have all been taken into consideration and we have tried to revise the hours to minimise the impact locally.  

"In addition, we have proposed to close a library on a day another locality library is open."

So how will the proposals affect your local service?

(Image: Unsplash)

Here's a list of the council's plans for libraries in the Irvine and Kilwinning areas:

• Dreghorn Library: The library is currently open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm as well as Saturday from 10am to noon. The new plan will see the facility closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open from 9.30am to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays and Saturdays. That's a cut from 24 hours of opening to 16.5 hours.
• Irvine Library: The service will retain its current 41 opening hours from Monday to Saturday, but will close at 5.30pm on Tuesdays rather than 7pm and will close at 2pm on Wednesdays, rather than 12.30pm.
• Kilwinning Library: The service will retain its current 30 opening hours per week, but will close at 5pm rather than 6pm on Tuesdays, 1pm rather than 12.30pm on Wednesdays and 1pm rather than 12.30pm on Saturdays.

Across the rest of North Ayrshire, opening times have been cut from 26 hours to 16.5 hours at the libraries in Ardrossaan, Beith, Dalry and West Kilbride.

Library services in Stevenston are being cut back even more, reducing the opening hours from 30 hours to 16.5.