Artizan Street Library extended hours pilot ‘unsuccessful’

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A trial of Saturday opening at a City of London library attracted just 227 people – including 10 who just popped in to spend a penny,

The experiment over 20 weekends at the Artizan Street Library will be discontinued after the extra hours failed to attract extra customers.

A report said there were an average of nine adults and two children during the Saturday morning opening.

Feedback included negative comments including “Why are you open on Saturdays? There is no point in Artizan Street opening Saturdays when there are so many other activities on in the City.”

Some readers said they would go to the Barbican Library at the weekend instead.

The move followed the three-yearly consultation on the library service.

Residents also handed in a petition calling for longer opening hours.

Unlike the Saturday opening, extended weekday hours have been successful, the culture, heritage and libraries committee heard.

They attracted 1,337 people, or 5% more visitors in the first four months of the pilot.

The extra hours saw the library open from 8am to 5.30pm on four days, with one late night until 7pm.