The purpose of my study is to investigate the impact of reduced hours on public library
services in Cape Town through taking my own library, Eersterivier Library, as a case
study. The research problem comes from the author’s personal experience as a
librarian in the City of Cape Town whose library’s usage seems to have increased
since the reductions in hours in two neighbouring libraries, Melton Rose and Kuils
River. The reductions in their hours are due to libraries losing staff and not being
replaced. Libraries should be accessible in terms of location and open hours,
especially in disadvantaged communities such as those served by the three libraries.
The study sets out to investigate why registered members of the other two libraries
might be using my library and if it could be because of the reduced hours. It is a small
scale study which includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study
comprises an analysis of circulation statistics of the three libraries, a survey of users at
Eersterivier Library that are members of the two adjacent libraries and interviews with
librarians in charge of the two libraries. The study sets out to answer the following
questions:
• Does the reduction of open hours contribute to reduced accessibility of library
and information service to the public?
• Are the increases of usage at Eersterivier Public Library from members of other
libraries the result of the reduced hours of the adjacent libraries?
• Do library users prefer to use a library facility nearest to them?