Library Director Melissa Canham-Clyne says folks "are still adjusting" to new hours instituted in January at the Clark Memorial Library in Bethany.
"It's the first time we've had morning hours in the history of the library," she says of the building that opened in 1937 before an expansion that more than doubled the space in 1995.
New hours have the library closed Mondays but open earlier (10 a.m. instead of 2 p.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition, Saturday hours have been extended from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Full hours of operation included at end of article.)
Canham-Clyne, who was hired last September after 10 years working for the New Haven Free Public Library, says the idea to change hours and be open on two mornings came to her during Hurricane Sandy last October.
She says though 70 percent of the town was without power, the library did not lose electricity so a lot of residents sought refuge here.
"That's when we got feedback," Canham-Clyne says. "(People were saying,) 'it'd be nice if you were open mornings.'"
She says the new morning hours on Tuesday and Thursday seek to better serve parents who want to bring their young kids in and senior citizens.
The library director says it also "gives us an opportunity to work with schools -- a demographic we weren't hitting before."
The Clark Memorial Library is now open Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The library is located at 538 Amity Road and can be reached at 203.393.2103.
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