Cork County Council Extends Library Opening Hours with New Technology Service

Cork County Council has officially opened the newly refurbished Carrigaline Library and launched extended opening hours across three library locations, significantly expanding access to community services throughout the county.

The "My Open Library" technology-driven service has been rolled out to Carrigaline, Kinsale, and Mallow libraries, extending their opening hours to 8am-10pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This represents a 145% increase in available service hours, rising from 40 to 98 hours per week at each location.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the upgraded Carrigaline facility was attended by Councillor Patrick Donovan, deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD, and Cork County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell.

Funded jointly by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Cork County Council, the initiative addresses the needs of community members whose work, family, or other commitments prevent them from visiting during traditional staffed hours.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Councillor Joe Carroll, emphasised the importance of libraries as community hubs. "Libraries are at the heart of our towns and villages providing so much more than books. They are community hubs and safe spaces to study, learn and work," he said.

Minister Buttimer praised the progressive approach, noting that the service is now available in 23 of Ireland's 30 library authorities.

"Our public libraries are a home-from-home for our elderly, our young people, and our new communities and now they will be able to avail of those services every day of the year, from morning till night," he stated.

The newly refurbished Carrigaline Library features several improvements, including a young adult zone with relaxed seating, a remodelled children's area with additional books and worktables, comfortable window seating, and a multifunction community meeting room available for booking during extended hours. New bike racks have been installed to encourage sustainable transport.

Cork County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell revealed plans to expand the service to Macroom Library later this year, bringing the county total to six My Open Library locations. The existing services at Bandon and Fermoy libraries have already demonstrated success, with more than 50,000 visits recorded outside regular opening hours since 2022, particularly among students, remote workers, families, older adults, and community groups.

The expansion forms part of Cork County Council's strategic ambition to improve library access and establish these facilities as focal points for community and cultural development.