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Stamford's Ferguson Library Extends Its Hours At All Branches

STAMFORD, Conn. -- After years of belt tightening forced Ferguson Library to cut its hours, patrons will see the doors open an hour earlier and close an hour later beginning Tuesday.

Ferguson Library main branch patrons wait for the doors to open at 11 a.m. during a summer weekday morning. Beginning Tuesday, the library will have extended hours including opening at 10 a.m. every day except Sunday at the main branch downtown.

Ferguson Library main branch patrons wait for the doors to open at 11 a.m. during a summer weekday morning. Beginning Tuesday, the library will have extended hours including opening at 10 a.m. every day except Sunday at the main branch downtown.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

"People have told me that they are absolutely delighted that there will be more hours," said the library's Interim President Alice Knapp. 

The main library will open at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. That contrasts with the previous 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays that will now be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while Saturdays and Sundays remain unchanged at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. respectively.

The library had asked for a 10 percent budget increase, and the city's Board of Finance ultimately approved a 4.5 percent increase, Knapp said. She credits the board but also Mayor David Martin, who she said strongly backed the library's request for an increase in funding.

The Ferguson Library would have liked to restore all of the hours that were lost, Knapp said, but the funding increase allows it to restore a significant amount of hours and make it more convenient for patrons.

Staff schedules were reworked, Knapp said, and the Ferguson Library also provided more opportunities for patrons to self check out their books, magazines and movies without needing a staff member.

The Harry Bennett Branch at 115 Vine Road will also see extended hours. Mondays and Wednesdays it will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturdays it's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is not be open Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Weed Memorial & Hollander Branch at 1143 Hope St. will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. It will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. It's closed the rest of the week.

The South End Branch at 34 Woodland Ave. will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. 

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