The Dorset branch of the Haliburton County Public Library has extended its hours for the new year, introducing a new service on Thursday evenings.
CEO and chief librarian Andrea Brown noted the library board approved an increase in service hours at Dorset last fall.
The decision was made following a public survey, conducted over the summer, where one of the primary requests was to extend the hours at the County’s northernmost branch.
As part of the service expansion, Brown said the library is introducing an after-school hangout program in Dorset. It will run from 3 to 7 p.m. and be open to all County families.
She said it will provide “an opportunity to unwind together after the school day.” The program will operate as a drop-in, featuring a mix of hands-on activities routed in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), creative play and open-ended exploration of the library space.
Brown said there will be free ‘Teen Exam Week Survival Kits’ available to youth Jan. 16 and 17, helping high schoolers to prepare for the end of the fall semester. Each kit is packed with study helpers, chill-out items and snacks to help maintain focus.
The Dorset branch, located inside the Dorset Recreation Centre, reopened in October 2024 following a years-long closure.
It’s open four days a week – Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, including a full run of upcoming programs, visit www. haliburtonlibrary.ca/About-Us/BranchesHours/Dorset-Branch.
