Council to trial swipe-card access for libraries

Hamworthy library is one of several in the BCP area chosen to trial the new technology

A council in Dorset is hoping to bring swipe-card access to some of its libraries in a bid to encourage more library use by residents.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has applied for grant funding from The Arts Council.

It wants to introduce "open access" so users can access their local libraries outside of normal opening hours.

The system is already in use by a number of local authorities, including in Barnet, Sutton, South Gloucestershire and Northern Ireland.

BCP Council currently runs 24 libraries, four of which - in Hamworthy, Rossmore, Southbourne and Charminster - will trial the scheme.

Open access would be phase one, with remodelling to follow, and the entire project anticipated to last two years.

A staff member scanning books at Bournemouth library

Cabinet member for culture Andy Martin said it was not a cost-cutting move.

"We're not intending to reduce staff hours. We have done that over the last two or three years, and we've done enough salami slicing of library hours," he said.

"We don't have enough members of staff to man the libraries, staff the libraries for 12 hours a day."

If funding is forthcoming, it means library card holders would be able to access their libraries at different times throughout the day.

It would enable libraries to be open six days a week, potentially between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00.

The capital cost for the project is expected to be £474,749, made up of £387,750 grant and £86,999 in BCP funding.

From April, Charminster library in Bournemouth will be open when they would usually be closed

Libraries Connected is an independent charity that supports, promotes and represents public libraries.

CEO Isobel Hunter, from Oxford, said the technology had been welcomed in the areas already using it.

"I think those longer opening hours are especially welcome," she said. "Used well and deployed wisely, it can be absolutely brilliant."

The swipe card entry technology is being used by a number of libraries run by South Gloucestershire Council.

Cabinet member for communities Sean Rhodes said it had been a huge success with library users.

He said it was "giving residents more choices" and the open access sessions allowed people to "come in at their convenience".