Northern Ireland

Fourteen libraries avoid opening hours cuts thanks to additional £225,000 funding

Belfast Central Library was among the 14 libraries that would have had opening hours cut
Belfast Central Library was among the 14 libraries that would have had opening hours cut Belfast Central Library was among the 14 libraries that would have had opening hours cut
By Michael McHugh, PA

PROPOSALS to cut library hours in the north have been scrapped.

An extra £225,000 has been found to ward off the threat of reduced opening hours at 14 of the busiest libraries.

More than 8,000 responses were received to a Libraries NI consultation on the change.

Communities minister Paul Givan said: "The views of people are important in any public consultation and the responses received during the Libraries NI consultation have been clearly heard, both by the organisation and by me as minister."

The branches that were to be affected were: Ballymena; Bangor; Belfast Central; Carrickfergus; Coleraine; Derry Central; Dungannon; Enniskillen; Finaghy; Glengormley; Lisburn City; Lurgan; Newry City and Omagh.

Chief executive of Libraries NI Irene Knox said libraries made a difference to the lives of people of all ages and that was borne out by the consultation responses.

"It is heartening to read their stories and within the resources that are available to us, we will continue to develop and deliver services that meet identified need," she said.