Libraries ACT will adjust its opening hours for summer 2024–25 across its 10 public library branches, including the ACT Heritage Library.

Christmas shutdown

All library branches, including return chutes, will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December to Sunday 5 January 2025 (inclusive).

The home library service will not operate from Monday 23 December to Sunday 5 January 2025 (inclusive).

The Libraries ACT customer information centre will not operate from Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Thursday 2 January 2025 (inclusive).

Any item due to be returned during the Christmas shutdown period will automatically have its due date extended to Monday 13 January 2025.

Summer opening hours

From Monday 6 January to Sunday 9 February 2025, Libraries ACT branches will operate according to the below timetable.

Dickson, Gungahlin, and Woden

• 10am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday
• 10am to 4pm Saturday

Civic and Erindale

• 10am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday

Belconnen, Kingston, Kippax and Tuggeranong

• 10am to 5:30pm Tuesday to Friday
• 10am to 4pm Saturday

ACT Heritage Library

• 9:30am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday
• 10am to 4pm Saturday

On Monday 10 February 2025, opening hours will return to normal.

The changed opening hours will be trialled to:

• increase staffing capacity at branches throughout summer
• provide Libraries ACT staff with time to undertake important administrative and planning tasks when the libraries are closed
• increase leave opportunities for Libraries ACT staff who deserve a well-earned break over summer
• increase service reliability by helping keep unplanned branch closures to a minimum.

Data shows that there is a general decline in loans, returns and visitors to libraries throughout December and January, and closure days have been chosen in accordance with low-demand days.

Further to this, the branches chosen to close have been selected based on their individual visitation levels, and also with consideration to providing access to services across Canberra.

Impacted stakeholders including community members and organisations who have booked rooms and programs on these days will be contacted and offered alternative arrangements where possible.

Return chutes will remain operational when a library branch is not open, excluding the Christmas shutdown period (details above).

The changes include reduced opening hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and no late-night trading hours.

To find out more about our operating arrangements or to access digital resources, visit the Libraries ACT website.