Calls for extension of Kilkenny Library opening hours receive widescale backing

Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Cllr Joe Malone has whole heartedly backed plans to extend opening hours at the Mayfair Library in the city, emphasising it’s immeasurable value to exam sitting students.

The comments followed an extensive presentation by County Librarian, Josephine Coyne to councillors at July’s sitting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District who illustrated how the library service has gone from strength to strength post the Covid pandemic.

The Mayfair was officially opened to the public on Wednesday, April 24 last year on the site of the old Mayfair Ballroom and has proved to be a real success story, with almost one-quarter of the people living in Kilkenny members of the library in a real vote of confidence.

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There are eight library branches and a mobile library service in the county. With a combined 311 open hours, however Ms Coyne was keen to explain further investment is needed if the library is to continue to flourish.

"I would like to see the library open for longer particularly coming up to exam season," Cllr Malone told the meeting.

The Fianna Fáil councillor offered great credit to Ms Coyne and all the staff at the Mayfair Library, and hailed the setting as a 'place for everyone' where many students or those studying for college exams can go if they don’t have a suitable environment to study in at home.

Party colleague, Cllr Andrew McGuinness concurred with Cllr Malone said he was 'pleasantly surprised' at the number of people availing of the service and believes the offering has the potential to go 'a little further'.

Cllr McGuinness also highlighted the increasingly crucial role the library plays in the lives of exam sitting young adults.

"So many families in Kilkenny may not have an adequate environment to study at home," he said.

In response, Ms Coyne confirmed the library will be extending its opening hours until 10pm in at the city library and other branches around the county.

Meanwhile, Cllr Sean Ó hArgain offered similar praise and complimented the staff’s work in securing Irish language books.

"The children of this city don’t know how lucky they are in comparison to other areas," he remarked.

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