Libraries ACT will change opening hours across its branches, with all weekday openings moving earlier to 9am and town centre libraries opening 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

Under the new arrangements:

• Town centre branches — Belconnen, Woden, Dickson, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong
  Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday
• Community branches — Civic, Erindale and Kippax
  Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
• Kingston neighbourhood branch
  Open 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday

Late-night and Sunday hours will end, with the government saying visit data shows demand is strongest on weekdays and Saturdays. More than 96 per cent of weekday library visits occur during standard business hours, according to Libraries ACT.

Borrowing, collections, digital services, room bookings and regular programs will continue. Branches will also remain available for emergency community use, including as heat refuges when activated by the Chief Health Officer.

The government says it is also looking at options to allow reserved items to be picked up outside staffed hours at key branches, after late-night sessions were found to be used largely for collecting holds.

The changes follow the Independent Working Group report into Libraries ACT, delivered to the government in 2025.

The new arrangements will be introduced in the coming weeks.