24/09/2009 -

Ballymote Library Service

Temporary Suspension of Ballymote Library Service

Ballymote Library Service will be closed temporarily for five months and will re-open to the public on 23rd February 2010. A significant body of work has to be carried out to prepare for the opening of the new Branch Library in Autumn 2010, and allied to the decrease in staff numbers in the Library Service, Sligo County Council has no option but to suspend the service in the short term.

Explained Deputy County Manager Dorothy Clarke ‘The Ballymote Councillors and Sligo County Council staff have carried out excellent work in planning the new Library Service for Ballymote. We look forward to providing a first class Library service in a modern, fully equipped Branch, but regrettably we have to suspend the service until early 2010. Over the coming months our Library staff will be overseeing the tendering process and preparing new stock in preparation for the opening of the new Library.’

Sligo County Librarian Donal Tinney feels there may be an opportunity for the local community to play their part in supporting their local library service. ‘A number of students worked as volunteers in our branches over the summer, but as they have returned to College it might be useful to consider working with local volunteers to see if a way can be found to open Ballymote Library one or two days a week. We will be discussing the feasibility of this option with local Councillors and the Ballymote community over the coming weeks.