The Withers Community Library is currently open all weekdays (Monday - Friday) 9am until 1pm. 

Council supported the decision to conduct a trial period of increasing operating hours by 40%. Once this trial period is completed and reviewed, a further long-term decision will be made regarding the operating hours of the library. 

These changes will not affect any operating hours at Bunbury library. 

Various stakeholder consultations have taken place that have helped inform the two options presented. Our next step is to consult with our broader community through this engagement piece, to ensure these proposed amends to the library operating hours are suitable for all. 

Our wonderful library team are currently reviewing all services and programs at the Withers library inline with the operating hours changes proposed. Once it is understood what days and hours the library will operate, we will confirm the additional programs and services available. We encourage you to provide your feedback in the survey attached on what programs you would utilise. 

Although the library is proposed to be closed two weekdays, this allows for Saturday mornings to be open and also extended hours on the remaining weekdays. This supports the 40% increase in hours nominated and ensures all community members can have additional accessibility in an option on the weekend and also late afternoon. 

The costs relevant to the additional operating hours have already been factored into the endorsed 25/26 City of Bunbury budget. 

The trial period of the extended hours will take place from 3 November 2025 (originally 30 September 2025) until the 31st December 2026. Once the trial is complete, we will re-engage with our community to understand what worked and didn't work with the changes, and a long term decision regarding the operating hours ot the Withers library will be made from there.