Mataura Library role will mean a return to fulltime hours
The Gore District Council will introduce a part-time role at the Mataura Library / Service Centre to support the sole charge staff and allow it to return to full-time hours.
Gore District Chief Executive Debbie Lascelles said the additional staff member would also enable the library team to introduce more community-focused activities.
“We want to be able to provide after-school programmes and make the library into a community hub.”
In the meantime, the library will revert to the reduced hours introduced after ongoing incidents of unruly behaviour.
The library’s hours will be from 10:00am to 2:30pm starting tomorrow (25 July).
Library Manager Emma Sherie said the reduced hours would enable the Council to ensure a safe environment for staff.
The library had briefly trialled staying opening until 4:00pm. However, there have been incidents of verbal abuse to staff and unruly behaviour.
“The sole charge nature of the role at Mataura means the risk to staff is unacceptable.
“Reverting to 2:30pm closing would only be until we get the new staff member in place,” she said.