When and how will public libraries reopen in England?

Current situation

The restriction on opening eased from July 4. This meant that councils can reopen libraries on that date and are free to do so at a time and in a way suitable for them. Libraries Connected is supporting the process by sharing best practice and have produced a recovery toolkit. There is also a DCMS Taskforce set up to aid sector recovery.

England – Listed by alphabetical order of council name

The following is a list only of those library services which have announced their intentions publicly that I have noted. None will be offering physical events as yet and all have heightened hygiene measures in place. I have used the term “click and collect” in most cases where you need to order books in advance, although it may well have a different name in the service you’re interested in. Also, please note that “open” almost always means with reduced hours. The date of last update is in brackets, taken from social media and news reports, and it is possible that there have been developments since the last check.

10 (out of 150) English services have not yet indicated how and when they will reopen or won’t be open until September: Barking and Dagenham (opening 1st September), Bedford and Central Bedfordshire (“later in the Summer”), Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Derby, Ealing, Leicester, Sandwell and the Wirral.

• Barking and Dagenham – preparing to open Barking Learning Centre and Dagenham Library from 1 September 2020. (1.8)
• Barnet – Select and Collect from 4 libraries, home library service. (1.8)
• Barnsley – 6 libraries open (1.8)
• Bath and North East Somerset – “grab and go” pre-selected book collections at 3 libraries /not other info found (1.8)
• Bedford – Open “later in the Summer” (26.7). All closed (1.8)
• Bexley – All libraries reopened, ” The first floor at Central Library and the Local Studies and Archives Centre will remain closed” (1.8)
• Birmingham – Library of Birmingham open for click and collect, with more open gradually (4.8)
• Blackburn with Darwen – Blackburn and Darwen libraries both open with revised hours (26.7)(1.8)
• Blackpool – Layton, Moor Park and Palatine libraries open (1.8)
• Bolton – Central Library open for browsing, Breightmet Library, Farnworth Library, Harwood Library, Horwich Library and Westhoughton Library open for click and collect (1.8)
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – All libraries open (1.8)
• Bracknell Forest – Bracknell, Crowthorne, Binfield and Great Hollands open (1.8)
• Bradford – Click and collect in almost all libraries (1.8)
• Brent –  Ealing Road, Kilburn, Wembley and The Library at Willesden Green open with limited hours (1.8)
• Brighton and Hove – Jubilee Library will open from Monday 10 August, with Hove Library following on Wednesday 12 August. (1.8)
• Bristol – Central library call and collect, From Monday 10 August, you can visit Henbury, Fishponds and Stockwood libraries will be open. (1.8)

• Bromley – All 14 open , with reduced hours (4.8)
• Buckinghamshire – All libraries open (1.8),
• Bury – All closed (1.8)
• Calderdale – All closed (1.8)
• Cambridgeshire – All open from 3 August (1.8)
• Camden – Pancras Square, West Hampstead and Queen’s Crescent Libraries are preparing to reopen with limited computer access from Monday 3 August. (1.8)
  • Garden Suburb volunteer library doing click and collect since 3 May. Council libraries: “we are working on plans to make sure Camden’s libraries can be opened safely.” (13.7)
• Central Bedfordshire – All closed (1.8).
• Cheshire East – All libraries open, reduced hours (1.8)
• Cheshire West and Chester – 5 libraries open: Storyhouse full hours, other 4 (Ellesmere Port, Winsord, Northwich, Neston) reduced hours. (1.8)
• City of London – All libraries reopened. reduced hours (1.8)
• Cornwall – Click and collect (1.8)
• Coventry – All closed (1.8)
• Croydon – Click and collect in 5 libraries (1.8)
• Cumbria – Carlisle, Penrith, Whitehaven, Workington, Kendal and Barrow will reopen to the public on Monday, August 10. (1.8)
• Darlington – “quick pick borrowing” from Central, reduced hours (1.8)
• Derby – All closed (1.8)
• Derbyshire – 13 reopened (3.8)
• Devon – 20 open (3.8)
• Doncaster – Click and collect from 4 branches (1.8)
• Dorset – Click and collect (1.8)
• Dudley – “Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford and Sedgley libraries had been offering a takeaway service – issuing pre-selected and pre-issued books for customers to collect since July 6 – but they have now re-opened to enable customers to visit once again to select their own books between 10am and 3pm Monday to Saturday.” (3.8)
• Durham – “The Pick and Collect service will initially be available at libraries in Barnard Castle, Chester-le- Street, Consett, Crook, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee and Seaham as well as Belmont, in Durham, and Woodhouse Close, in Bishop Auckland” (19.7)
• Ealing – None open (13.7)
• Enfield – “We will be gradually reopening libraries from 13 July, in line with government guidance following closures due to the coronavirus lockdown. The first libraries to open will be Enfield Town and Edmonton Green libraries. These will be ground floor only until further notice.” (13.7)
• East Riding of Yorkshire – Click and collect from 6 July.
• East Sussex – Click and collect from 13 July.
• Essex – “”The county council has reopened 69 libraries since the end of lockdown and has pledged to open the remaining five libraries in August.” (26.7)
• Gateshead – “The library service is currently planning the safe, gradual restarting of services. From Monday 6th July, we will be offering a Ring and Read service. We will provide more information about this service and how it operates next week.” (24/6/20) Volunteer libraries in Gateshead e.g. Low Fell open at the same stage. (15.7)
• Gloucestershire – Click and collect from 13 July in 12 libraries. (19.7)

• Greenwich – All open with reduced hours (4.8)
• Hackney –  Hackney Libraries will begin reopening and reintroducing services from Tuesday 28 July, click and collect in several branches (26.7)
• Halton – Halton Lea opening from 7 July, Monday to Saturday 11 to 2 then others
• Hammersmith and Fulham – Fulham and Shepherds Bush Libraries are operating a limited service from their main entrances. You can bring your items for return to these libraries and collect items you have ordered through the Select and Collect service from Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm. (26.7)
• Hampshire – Most libraries will be open for 30  minute visits from Monday 6 July.
• Haringey – Muswell Hill, St Ann’s and Wood Green limited service from 13 July, 
• Harrow – “Stanmore and Wealdstone libraries will be re-opening from Tuesday 14th July 2020. Not all of our services will be available and we will look a little different when we open.”
• Hartlepool – “Hartlepool Libraries are currently operating a Click and Collect service from Community Hub South. We are planning a phased opening of libraries over the coming weeks starting with Community hub south.” (Via email, 26.7)
• Havering – Click and collect: “Hornchurch, Rainham, Central Library on 17 July with the other five libraries in the borough opening on Wednesday 22 July.” (15.7)
• Herefordshire – Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye libraries, limited hours (24.7)
• Hertfordshire – Watford Central, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage: “A new initiative from libraries across Hertfordshire will be rolling out across ten sites from Monday, July 6, Ready Reads will allow users to collect a pre-selected book pack to read at home. Customers will be notified when their books are ready for collection from the door or lobby of the library while observing social distancing guidelines.”
• Hillingdon – Reserve and collect at 3 libraries from 22 June and to 7 libraries, including the mobile. by 29 June.
• Hounslow – “Feltham and Heston libraries will reopen on Wednesday 8 July followed by Chiswick Library on Monday 13 July.” 15,7
• Hull – 6 click and collect from 9 July. 
• Isle of Wight – Click and collect from 6 July, reduced opening hours (19.7)
• Isles of Scilly – Open with reduced hours. 
• Islington – Reopening from 27 July starting with returns only at Central and Finsbury libraries. From 10 August you will be able to click or call and collect from Archway, Central and Finsbury libraries. (15.7). 
• Kensington and Chelsea – “From Monday 6 July, North Kensington Library, Kensington Central Library and Chelsea Library are welcoming back residents with heightened hygiene and social distancing measures in place to ensure residents can safely enjoy all that our libraries have to offer.”
• Kent – Select & Collect from 7 July. 12 libraries open from 13 July, at Sevenoaks, Dartford, Sittingbourne, Herne Bay, Gravesend, Broadstairs, Southborough, Deal, Ashford, Tonbridge, Maidstone KHLC & Folkestone libraries only
• Kingston – “We are offering a new Ready Reads: We Select You Collect lending service to our customers from 21 July at Surbiton Library. This is an appointment only service.” (15.7)
• Kirklees – “Ring and read” service announced from 27 July. (26.7)
• Knowsley – “from Monday July 13, Huyton library will be providing a ‘Select and Collect’ service to enable you to pre-order and collect books from our door … This new service will be also be available at Kirkby, Halewood and Prescot branches from July 27. “ (15/7)
• Lambeth – Brixton, Carnegie, Clapham, Durning, South Lambeth, Streatham and West Norwood from 20 July (19.7)
• Lancashire – Full details, many open (26.7).
• Leeds – Open with limited services from 10am today (9 July): Armley, Compton Road Centre, Dewsbury Road, Headingley, Reginald Centre and Seacroft Library.
• Leicester – Kibworth Library – Volunteer library. Will deliver donated books to the house for free.
• Leicestershire – The county council’s click and collect service is now available at libraries in Market Harborough, Broughton Astley and Lutterworth.
• Lewisham – Click and collect from 5 libraries (15.7). 
• Lincolnshire – Libraries open (2.8)
• Liverpool –  Central Library to reopen on 13 July. All other libraries will remain closed for the time being (1 July).
• Luton – “Central Library will re-open for some services from Monday 20th July” with click and collect and reduced hours (15.7)
• Manchester – “Chorlton Library, City Library (at Central Library), Didsbury Library, Gorton Library, Longsight Library, Newton Heath Library, Withington Library and Forum Library, Wythenshawe.” will be open for limited hours from 4 July. (26 June)
• Medway – Several open for return and click and collect (19.7)
• Merton –  3 libraries open for click and collect (15.7)
• Middlesbrough – Click and collect (2.8)
• Milton Keynes – 5 libraries open (2.8)
• Newcastle – Central Library will open “towards the end of July, with others following.. Jesmond Library Jesmond Volunteer library. From Thursday 14 May. “The library’s collection and delivery service is up and running. If you would like to borrow books (up to 3 per person) please email us”, only one person in lobby at a time.
• Newham – Click and collect (15.7)
• Norfolk – 12 libraries reopening 6/7 July.
• North Lincolnshire – Scunthorpe Central limited service only, all others closed (15.7). 
• North Somerset – “Book pick-up services will run at The Campus in Highlands Lane, The Healthy Living Centre in Lonsdale Avenue, Winscombe Library in Woodborough Road, Worle Library in Mendip Avenue, Yatton in the High Street and Weston Town Hall” (19.7)
• North Tyneside – “From Monday 13 July, books will be available to Order and Collect from our Customer First Centres, the Oxford Centre, and John Willie Sams Centre.” (15.7)
• Northamptonshire – 13 libraries open with reduced hours for click and collect (2.8)
• Northumberland – Click and collect (2.8)
• North Yorkshire – Libraries reopening (2.8)
• Northeast Lincolnshire – Order and collect (15.7). 
• Nottingham – Open from 6 July, new opening times.
• Nottinghamshire – The first known service to announce what they are doing, run by Inspire, on 21 May, who announced they will reopen from 6 July in seven pilot libraries. This will include allowing the public into libraries, with social distancing in place and a limited capacity of public per library. More libraries will be opened, in stages, in the weeks afterward. Also, see here.
• Oldham – Central open from 6 July, with choice of pre-selected packs of books to borrow. Bookable PC access. (26 June).
• Oxfordshire – 6 libraries open from 13 July, 5 more on 20 July.  30 minute time limit. (19.7)
• Peterborough – “Central Library will reopen in August (exact date to be confirmed shortly) and will operate a restricted service from 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 2pm on Saturday. Other libraries will be opened in a phased approach with larger libraries opening by the end of August in time for the start of the school term and smaller libraries opening by the end of September.” (26/7); Vivacity, the trust that was running libraries for the council, is in financial difficulties and is in the process of returning libraries to council control. (16.7)
• Plymouth – Select and collect from 4 libraries. At Central Library, computers can be booked from Monday 3 August, and browsing is available from Monday 10 August. (2.8)
• Portsmouth – Central, Southsea and North End libraries are now open. Portsmouth History Centre, at Central Library, are also open by prior appointment. (16.7)
• Reading – Aiming for limited opening of some service at Central library only on reduced hours from around end of the month, exact date TBC. 6 branches remain closed for the moment. Home service would also restart.
• Redbridge – Redbridge Central Library open from Monday 6 July. Opening hours will be 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
• Redcar and Cleveland – Redcar, Guisborough, South Bank and Loftus will offer a ‘select and collect’ service
• Richmond – From Monday 6 July 2020, the click and collect service was resumed for reserved books only from selected Richmond upon Thames Libraries. From Monday 20 July East Sheen Library will be added to the available click and collect libraries. (16.7)
• Rochdale – Request and collect at five libraries (16.7).
• Rotherham – Click and collect (2.8)
• Rutland – Oakham Library is due to reopen from Wednesday 22 July offering a reduced ‘Request&Collect’ collection and drop-off service only (19.7)
• Salford – from Monday 20 July Winton Library will be re-opening. Height Library re-opened its doors again on Monday 13 July. (16.7)
• Sandwell – All still closed (16.7)
• Sefton – Several libraries offering limited services (26.7)
• Sheffield – Click and collect in some libraries from 10 August (2.8)
• Shropshire –  Oswestry and Shrewsbury, Ludlow Library is currently operating on reduced opening hours. (26.7)
  • Ellesmere volunteer library click and collect until normal service resumes in August with reduced hours (19.7)
• Slough – All 4 libraries click and collect (16.7)
• Solihull – ““Solihull Library Service has started issuing books through its new click and collect scheme at The Core. This will be followed by similar schemes at Chelmsley Wood Library and Shirley Library on July 20.”
• Somerset – Library buildings in Frome, Yeovil, Minehead and Bridgwater opened for the order-and-collect service from Monday July 13, with members able to choose up to 10 books for collection. (19.7)
• South Gloucestershire – Library visit by appointment only (16.7)
• South Tyneside – Browsing allowed in pre-booked slots (2.8)
• Southampton – Southampton City have all city-run branches open for browsing, now including Saturdays. 2 community – run branches open for returns and pick up selections. (4.8)
• Southend – Click and collect service from all 6 libraries from July 6.
• Southwark – Click and collect from 5 libraries (4.8)
• St Helens – Eccleston, Parr and Chester Lane libraries open with reduced hours (3.8)
• Staffordshire – Click and collect in an expanding number of libraries, with volunteer libraries opening separately “at their own pace”.
• Stockport – Click and collect in 4 libraries (16.7)
• Stockton on Tees – “Our larger libraries – Billingham, Norton, Stockton, Thornaby Central and Yarm – are open for book returns and book collections only, operating from 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Our mobile library remains closed. From Monday, July 20 the service at the larger libraries listed above will be extended to include limited browsing and access to ICT facilities from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm between Monday to Friday.” (16.7)
• Stoke – “Stoke-on-Trent City Council is extending the ‘click, call and collect’ service to the City Central library in Hanley and Meir library, following its successful launch at Longton and Tunstall libraries on July 6. Bentilee library will reopen on the same basis on Monday, July 27. But no reopening date has been announced for Stoke library yet.” (26.7)
• Suffolk – Libraries to reopen from early July – Suffolk Libraries. “Most libraries are closed on Mondays and are more likely to reopen on Tuesday 7 July.” … “The reservation service will be reintroduced slowly, starting with a ‘Select and collect’ service where customers can ask staff to prepare a small selection of books based on a genre or author they’re interested in.”
• Sunderland – “Our libraries will re-open on Monday 13 July. A phased, part time approach will be introduced at City Library, Washington Town Centre Library and Houghton Library in the first instance. Opening times will be Monday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm, for the three libraries.” (16.7)
• Surrey – Click and collect (2.8)
• Sutton – Sutton Central, Circle, Wallington and Worcester Park libraries open. “Reopening for Cheam, Sutton Life Centre, Westcroft and Phoenix Libraries will be reviewed constantly” (15.7). 
• Swindon – Click and collect in all libraries (2.8)
• Tameside – Click and collect, phased reopening from 6 July (16.7)
• Telford and Wrekin – Some opening  from 4 July but with 15 minute maximum visiting time.
• Thurrock – Belhus library reopened 6 July. Limited opening hours 10-4pm although Saturdays 10-1 as usual. Limited browsing but return and borrow books. Limited services (no toilets, computers etc )at the moment.
• Torbay – Phased reopening from 6 July (16.7)
• Tower Hamlets – Idea Store Chrisp Street on 21 July & Idea Store Whitechapel on 24 July with limited services (19.7)
• Trafford – 3 libraries open, 3 more in August, reduced hours (2.8)
• Wakefield – Libraries reopened, reduced hours (2.8)
• Walsall – Phased reopening from 13 July (16.7)
• Waltham Forest – 3 libraries open on reduced hours (16.7)
• Wandsworth – Click and collect for reduced hours from Balham, Battersea, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth Town libraries.  PC use.
• Warrington – Burtonwood,,Great Sankey, Orford Jubilee and Woolston Neighbourhood Hubs, Stockton Heath, Lymm and Warrington Museum and Library open. Culcheth reopening in August, remaining four in September and October (2.8).
• Warwickshire – Limited reopening from 13 July. 
• West Berkshire – The first stage from the 13 July will be to re-open Newbury, Hungerford and Thatcham Libraries for book collections during limited opening hours. We hope to open our other libraries on the same basis the following week.
• West Sussex – Click and Collect from all 36 libraries (19.7)
• Westminster – All open (4.8)
• Wigan – Wigan and Leigh central libraries and life centres will re-open on Monday 27th July at 10am – 2pm, Monday to Friday only.  (26.7)
• Wiltshire– 3 libraries open with shorter hours (2.8)
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Click and collect from Maidenhead Library (19.7)
• Wirral – All closed (19.7)
• Wokingham – Wokingham and Woodley open with reduced hours (3.8)
• Wolverhampton – Click and collect from Central from 3 August then Wednesfield, Warstones and Bilston libraries from Monday, August 17. (26.7)
• Worcestershire – Many libraries open (26.7).
• York – “The libraries at York Central, Acomb, Clifton and Tang Hall will open from 7 July, but on a pre-booked basis only. The Mobile library will be back too, but the rest of our smaller Gateway libraries will remain closed during this first stage.” Click and collect, 10am to 4pm.

Wales

Most library services are starting “click and collect” services in June but some (Cardiff, Torfaen) considerably earlier than others. All Welsh public libraries are using the same model, with pre-ordering being the first step.

• Anglesey – Click and collect in all libraries (1.8)
• Blaenau Gwent – Click and collect in Abertillery and Ebbw Vale (1.8)
• Bridgend – Pyle, Aberkenfig, Maesteg and Pencoed Libraries click and collect (1.8)
• Caerphilly – All libraries closed. (1.8)
• Cardiff – Click and collect in several libraries (1.8)
• Carmarthenshire – Click and collect from 3 libraries (1.8)
• Ceredigion – Click and collect in all libraries (1.8)
• Conwy – Click and collect (1.8)
• Denbighshire – Rhyl, Prestatyn and Corwen will be offering limited access to public computers and One Stop Shop services (1.8)
• Flintshire – Select and Collect from 6 July. Book delivery service (19.7)
• Gwynedd – Select and Collect only (15/7)
• Merthyr Tydfil – No information provided. (15/7)
• Monmouthshire – Select and collect from Monmouth and Chepstow libraries.
• Neath Port Talbot – Neath, Port Talbot and Pontardawe have select and collect. Returns boxes.
• Newport – “Central Library will reopen Tuesday 14 July for pre-booked visits only. The library will open Tuesday – Friday, 10am-12.30pm and 1pm-4pm. Read how to book your visit to Central Library. Our other libraries remain closed at present, we hope to be able to reopen them shortly.” (15/7)
• Pembrokeshire – Click and collect from 2 July in Tenby, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Fishguard and Haverfordwest.
• Powys – Click and collect in several branches (2.8)
• Rhondda Cynon Taff – Library Services will be operating an “Order and Collect” service only. Books will be available for order and collection from the following libraries: Pontypridd Library (Llys Cadwyn) Treorchy Library and Aberdare Library (16.7)
• Swansea – Phone and book up service from four libraries (16.7)
• Torfaen – “More than 70 people have used a new “request and collect” service from Cwmbran Library within days of it being set up. Torfaen council launched the service on Thursday, June 4, with 73 residents requesting 340 books by Monday afternoon.”
• Vale of Glamorgan – Click and collect.
• Wrexham – click and collect. (2.8)

Scotland

See Re-opening libraries – Summary of current guidance – CILIPS for current guidance.

• Aberdeen – Click and collect in several libraries and home library service from July 22 (1.8). 
• Aberdeenshire – Click and collect in 5 libraries (1.8)
• Angus – Click and collect (1.8)
• Argyll and Bute – All libraries closed (1.8)
• Borders – All closed, plans for click and collect (16.7)
• Clackmannanshire – Click and collect from The Speirs Centre, Alloa and The Ben Cleuch Centre, Tillicoultry (1.8)
• Dumfries and Galloway – no mention as yet (13.7)
• Dundee – no mention on website (13.7) “it looks like libraries will struggle to open any time soon” (19.7)
• East Lothian – Libraries reopening (2.8)
• Edinburgh – Some reopening shortly after 6 August (24.7)
• Eilean Siar – All closed (19.7)
• Falkirk – no mention (13.7)
• Fife – Click and collect from 15 July. 
• Glasgow – Two-thirds of libraries closed “indefinitely”.
• Highlands – Staggered reopening from 20 July – mixture of clock and collect and bookable visits.
• Inverclyde – Click and collect from 3 libraries (15.7)
• Midlothian – Click and collect from Dalkeith from 27 July (19.7)
• Moray – Click and collect starting with Elgin before end of August (2.8)
• North Ayrshire – Click and collect (2.8)
• North Lanarkshire – All closed (15.7)
• Orkney – Book return box available in two libraries.
• Perth and Kinross – AK Bell Library opens on Saturday 18th July with new opening hours; Blairgowrie Library reopens on Saturday 25 July with new opening hours. (16.7)
• Renfrewshire – From 20 July: All 12 of the libraries operated by the charity will be open for returns and for borrowing on a click and collect basis, as part of measures being put in place to ensure the safety of staff and library users. Books can be reserved online or by telephone. (19.7)
• Shetland – Click and collect from 29 June.
• South Ayrshire – All closed (16.7)
• South Lanarkshire – All closed, “staged recovery” planned (16.7)
• Stirling – Select and collect from 15.7 (16.7)
• West Dunbartonshire – Click and collect from Alexandria, Dumbarton and Dalmuir libraries from Monday 20 July (19.7)
• West Lothian – ” an appointment based, click and collect/phone and collect system will be in place across six West Lothian libraries including Linlithgow. Library customers will be able to book an appointment from Monday (July 13).” (12.7)

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland – Just the ticket… Northern Ireland libraries reopen their doors – Belfast Telegraph. “A new book and collect service is being provided to customers in 90 libraries. Five will fully reopen for book browsing and limited IT access. Omagh library and Lisburn City library opens today and Bangor Carnegie, Derry Central and Belfast Central open on Thursday.” (26.7)

Elsewhere in the British Isles

• Guernsey – Until 19 June, limited numbers allowed in, one-way system, 72 hour book quarantine, no study space. Open as normal from 20 June with no social distancing, events restarted.
• Isle of Man were open from Monday 1 June, with limited numbers allowed in library, book quarantine, limited time and removal of all furniture.
• Jersey – Limited numbers can enter from 12 June.

See also:

• What libraries have been doing during closure including GLL (Bromley, Dudley, Greenwich, Lincolnshire, Wandsworth) Suffolk, Tameside,
• Possible scenarios for UK reopening, including what is happening internationally.

Matt Finch on what Coronavirus means for public libraries in the future