Library lovers in Wake County will soon have more time to browse the shelves, research online databases and enjoy special programming. Wake County is extending the hours at most of its public libraries starting Jan. 2.
“We’re excited to expand hours to better meet the needs of our residents,” said Shinica Thomas, chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Longer hours mean more people can spend more time at our local libraries, whether it’s parents of young children looking for morning activities, students who need to study late after extracurricular commitments, or anyone who works long days – which is many of us!”
Most Wake County Public Libraries locations will open one hour earlier and close one hour later Monday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, they’ll open one hour earlier. The expanded hours are as follows:
- Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday, 1–5 p.m. (no change)
Athens Drive Community Library will close one hour later Monday through Thursday and open one hour earlier on Saturday.
- Monday–Thursday, 4–9 p.m.
- Friday, 4–6 p.m. (no change)
- Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday, 1–5 p.m. (no change)
Hours at the Express Library Fayetteville Street and Olivia Raney Local History Library will not change.
The longer hours have been popular in the past. From September 2019 to February 2020 (fiscal year 2020), more than 26,000 library items were checked out and over 3,100 internet computer sessions were logged per month during those two hours. Over 4,500 people per month attended programs starting before 10 a.m.
WCPL received more than 40 comments from patrons in its recent Customer Satisfaction Survey requesting extended hours. It’s also common for staff to hear comments from visitors who prefer to get in the library an hour earlier or stay an hour later.
“The expanded hours will allow us to be more convenient to a greater number of people,” said Katrina Vernon, senior library manager for Facilities and Operations. “We look forward to our visitors spending even more time in our libraries.”
View a list of Wake County Public Libraries locations here.
