READERS visiting Sands End Library in the last two years are likely to have found themselves frustrated by dozens of unplanned lunchtime closures, revealed to the Chronicle this week by one regular user.

The decision by the council to introduce all-day opening was certainly admirable, but the reality here is somewhat less impressive. Despite the open-all-hours pledge, the building is having to close to the public for an hour at least once a week while the only manager on site takes a lunch break.

Quite why the library's assistants are incapable of manning the desk while the boss nips to get a sandwich is probably one for the experts at the town hall.

Resident Services leader Paul Bristow seems suitably embarrassed and promised to

visit personally this week to resolve the situation, so visitors can hopefully look forward to a rapidly improved service.

A recent report revealed Hammersmith and Fulham is lagging behind other boroughs in the number of times residents visit libraries and the number of books borrowed, and crazy rules such as this surely only discourage wider use.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/library-thats-always-open-sometimes-6000493
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