Aragon's public libraries move flexible hours forward to 7:30

The Government of Aragon has modified the working hours of the staff of the Library of Aragon and the State Public Libraries in Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel to move the start of flexible scheduling forward to 7:30 a.m. and to establish the calculation for Saturday mornings. The measure is contained in Order HAP/1536/2026, of September 30, published in the Official Gazette of Aragon (BOA) number 208, of October 27, 2026, in its Section I of General Provisions (reference BOA20261027001), and comes into force on October 28.

The regulation, signed by the Councilor for Finance, Interior, and Public Administration, Roberto Bermúdez de Castro Mur, modifies Article 3 of the Order of September 28, 2015, which regulates the schedule of the staff at these centers. Until now, flexibility extended from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; with the new text, the window begins half an hour earlier and the Saturday margin is expanded.

The change fulfills the agreement reached on June 12, 2024, within a Technical Table established on February 28, 2024, to study the schedule of the staff assigned to the libraries of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sport. That agreement was presented to the Sectoral Table of General Administration of the Autonomous Community of Aragon on May 22, 2025, and the order is issued following an agreement by the majority of the trade union organizations present in that body.

Mandatory presence and new flexibility windows

The new Article 3 maintains the working day from Monday to Friday in two rotating or fixed shifts, morning or afternoon, and Saturday mornings, with these time slots:

• Mandatory presence Monday to Friday: from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., depending on the shift.
• Mandatory presence on Saturdays: from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Flexibility Monday to Friday: from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (previously from 8:00 a.m.).
• Flexibility on Saturday mornings: from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (previously until 2:00 p.m.).

The remainder of the schedule to complete the working day will be carried out under a flexibility regime in agreement with the head of the unit, in order to ensure that service needs are covered.

Saturday calculation and weekly rest

The order introduces a specific regulation for the calculation of hours worked on Saturday mornings: those hours will be calculated applying a multiplier factor of 2. Out of the total hours generated, with a minimum of 10 hours, 7 hours and 30 minutes will correspond to the weekly rest; the remainder will be included in the overtime pool.

The day of free disposal generated by the provision of services on Saturday shall be enjoyed in the two immediately following weeks, on Monday or Friday and by rotating shift, except for duly justified service needs.

Opening Calendar and Validity

The General Directorate competent in cultural matters may establish the annual opening calendar for the Library of Aragon and the State Public Libraries of Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel, determining the days of closure to the public, following negotiation with the legal representatives of the workers.

Personnel who do not perform user service functions will continue to be governed by the Order of September 11, 2012, of the Department of Finance and Public Administration, as amended by Order HAP/735/2024, of July 3. The order complies with article 37.1.m) and article 38.3 of the consolidated text of the Law of the Basic Statute of the Public Employee, approved by Royal Legislative Decree 5/2015, of October 30, and the organic structure established by Decree 127/2026, of July 22.

The regulation directly affects the staff of four public reference centers in Aragon and comes after more than two years of negotiation. In addition to moving the flexible entry time forward by half an hour, the text clarifies in writing how Saturdays are compensated, one of the historical demands of the public service staff.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, No. 208, of October 27, 2026, Section I. General Provisions (official reference: BOA20261027001).