Councillors press for answers over Bettystown Library opening hours

Councillors have expressed frustration at continued delays in introducing the My Open Library service at Bettystown Library, warning that secondary school and college students are facing another term without extended access to the facility.

The issue was raised by Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan at the October meeting of Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District, where she asked what progress had been made in extending opening hours and delivering the My Open Library service at the East Meath Civic Centre and Bettystown Library.

In a written response, Meath County Council said the project was progressing but that it was “not yet in a position to introduce the service safely to the public”.

The council confirmed that all My Open Library hardware, software and self-service kiosks have been installed and tested.

However, essential building works remain ongoing and must be completed before the service can commence. The East Meath Civic Centre also remains within the building defects liability period, with a number of outstanding issues which the council said must be resolved before extended access can be introduced.

Cllr Tolan expressed frustration at the response, particularly as another academic year is now underway.

“We're looking into another school term and there'll be another bunch of secondary school students that are locked out, and college students that are locked out, who use the library for study,” she said.

Describing Bettystown Library as a “fantastic facility”, Cllr Tolan highlighted the level of demand for its existing study space.

“It's packed with students, packed with students in the study area,” she said, adding that she had previously called for the study area itself to be extended. I just don't accept this response,” she told the meeting.

Cllr Tolan also questioned why issues relating to the defects period should prevent the introduction of My Open Library when the library itself was already open and operating.

She queried the reference to staffing resources in the council's response, pointing to the fact that the purpose of My Open Library is to facilitate access outside normal staffed hours.

Sinn Féin Cllr Maria White also sought greater clarity on the outstanding issues at the civic centre and when they were expected to be resolved.

She asked for an update on the defects identified during the defects liability period and a schedule for the completion of outstanding works.

“What is the schedule for having those works done?” she asked.

Cllr White also called for firm dates for progressing the My Open Library service, warning against allowing the delay to become open-ended.

“Could we have specific dates that we're moving towards in terms of My Open Library? Because this could go on indefinitely for years,” she said.

In its written response, the council said staffed opening hours at Bettystown Library had already been “maximised to the greatest extent possible within the existing staffing resources and operational budget”.

It said the position would continue to be kept under review and a further update would be provided when the project was in a position to “proceed safely to the next phase of implementation”.

My Open Library allows registered members to access participating libraries outside normal staffed opening hours using self-service technology.

- Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.