When and how will public libraries reopen in England?

England – Listed by alphabetical order of council name

The following is a list only of those libraries which have announced their intentions publicly. All have heightened hygiene measures in place and, unless specially noted, are open for reduced hours. 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 your area. Masks must be worn in all libraries.

The date of the 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. Please therefore always check the library service’s own website.

• 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 – Bath Central, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton Libraries open for browsing and collection of reservations from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (27.9).
• Bedford – Central and Kempston open for click and collect only (22.8)
• 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) Central will be open from 1 September (30.8) Anchorsholme and Revoe (11.10)
• 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 (9.8) computers available at City Library, Keighley Library and Shipley Library. (11.10)
• 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 29 libraries open (6.9),
• Bury – Bury and Ramsbottom libraries open for browsing (11.10)
• Calderdale – Central, Brighouse and Todmorden open, 3 more from 16 September (13.9)
• 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)]
  • Click and collect from Swiss Cottage, Holborn and Highgate Libraries. (9.8)
  • 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 – Click and collect (16.8)
• Cheshire East – All libraries open, reduced hours (1.8)
• Cheshire West and Chester – 10 libraries open, reduced hours. 5 more from 24 August (1.8)
• City of London – All libraries reopened. reduced hours (1.8)
• Cornwall – Click and collect (1.8)
• Coventry – 6 libraries open (11.10)
• Croydon – Click and collect in 5 libraries (1.8)
• Cumbria – 6 main libraries open (27.9) plus 12 more to open on 21 October.
• Darlington – “quick pick borrowing” from Central, reduced hours (1.8)
• Derby – “phased re-opening of our sites will take place over the next month, allowing as much use of library facilities as is safe and practical at this time.” (9/8)
• Derbyshire – All but one library, including mobiles, will be open by end of September (13/9)
• Devon – 20 open (3.8)
• Doncaster – Click and collect from 4 branches (1.8)
• Dorset – All open (6.9)
• 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 – Click and collect from 19 branches. No access to PCs. (9/8)
• Ealing – From 17 August 2020 Ealing Central Library will welcome back visitors, with other local libraries reopening in the coming weeks. (16/8)
• 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 – Open for browsing, time-limited slots (9/8)
• East Sussex – Currently five libraries are open, and all remaining libraries will be opening from 19 October with reduced opening hours. (9)
• Essex – All libraries open (20.9)
• Gateshead – All open (6.9)
• Gloucestershire – 23 open (20.9)

• Greenwich – All open with reduced hours (4.8)
• Hackney –  6 libraries open for click and collect, (22/8)
• 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 – 13 libraries with bookable 15 minute sessions (9/8)
• 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 – 6 libraries open (3.10)
• Isles of Scilly – Open with reduced hours. 
• Islington – 5 libraries reopened, reduced hours. 22/8
• 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 – Faversham, Canterbury Beaney, Coldharbour (Gravesend), Tenterden, Larkfield and Dover Discovery Centre, Ramsgate, Showfields (Tunbridge Wells), Cranbrook, Swanley, Allington and Hythe open for browsing (30.8) 66 out of 99 libraries to stay closed until 1 April to save money. Staff redeployed to open libraries. (27.9)
• 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 – 6 open for browsing, 6 others for IT (20.9)
• 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 – 58 open (4.10)
• Leeds – Open with limited services from 10am today (9 July): Armley, Compton Road Centre, Dewsbury Road, Headingley, Reginald Centre and Seacroft Library.
• Leicester – 14 libraries open (13.9) 
• Leicestershire – “Most of our libraries are now open for browsing, borrowing and returning items.” (3.10) Market Harborough bookable (11.10)
• Lewisham – Click and collect from 5 libraries (15.7). 
• Lincolnshire – “Core and Mobile Libraries have now reopened and Community Hub Libraries are in the process of reopening in a phased manner.” (27.9)
• Liverpool – 4 libraries open (16.8)
• Luton – “Central Library will re-open for some services from Monday 20th July” with click and collect and reduced hours (15.7)
• Manchester – All libraries except Northenden and Powerhouse open (13.9).
• 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 – 42 open plus Reepham open 30 September. Hingham Library will stay closed because too small (27.9)
• 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) 3 libraries open for browsing (30.8). Raunds volunteer library reopening (11.10)
• Northumberland – Click and collect (2.8) 3 open for browsing (30.8) 
• North Yorkshire – 12 open, plus volunteer libraries (20.9)
• Northeast Lincolnshire – Order and collect (15.7). 
• Nottingham – Open from 6 July, new opening times.
• Nottinghamshire – Almost all open. Mobile library running as click and collect (27.9)
• Oldham – Central open from 6 July, with choice of pre-selected packs of books to borrow. Bookable PC access. (26 June).
• Oxfordshire – 28 out of 44 open (4.10) Chinnor, Woodgreen, Charlbury and Wychwood libraries to reopen (11.10)
• Peterborough – Central Library reopen, 3 more reopening Bretton on 24.08.20, Orton on 25.08.20 and Werrington on 27.08.20 Reduced hours (22/8) 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 – Central and five other libraries now welcome customers to use PCs (by appointment) and to browse. All other libraries are due to open their doors by mid-October. (20.9)
• Portsmouth – Central, Southsea and North End libraries are now open. Portsmouth History Centre, at Central Library, are also open by prior appointment. (16.7) Cosham Library reopens (9.8) Beddow Library reopens (27.9)
• Reading – Central opened, aim for 3 of 6 to be opened by “end of year” (3.10)
• Redbridge – 5 open (10.9)
• 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 – The last library service in England to announce even limited reopening. Central Library West Bromwich will reopen on reduced service from Monday 28 September 2020 (13/9)
• Sefton – Several libraries offering limited services (26.7)
• Sheffield – Click and collect in 6 libraries from 10 August (9.8)
• 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 – All open (20.9)
• South Gloucestershire – Libraries open for browsing (6.9) Filton Library closed for repairs (13.9)
• 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 – All now open (13.9)
• Southwark – Click and collect from 5 libraries (4.8)
• St Helens – Eccleston, Parr and Chester Lane libraries open with reduced hours (3.8)
• Staffordshire – All 16 open (6.9) Kinver volunteer library reopens (4.10)
• 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 – “All libraries except Great Cornard, Saxmundham, Shotley local, Rushmere local and West Suffolk House have reopened. The mobile library services are running to their normal schedule, but the home library service remains suspended.” (9/8) All open by end of September (13/9)
• 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 – 47 open (3.10)
• Sutton – “”All libraries open and operating normal pre-lockdown staffed hours, except for Sundays when all branches remain closed for now. Libraries are not able to operate unstaffed self-service hours. Full book browsing is now available in all branches as well as running a ‘Select & Collect’ service and pre-selected ‘Lucky Dip’ book packs for preschoolers and young children. IT facilities (e.g. public computers, printers and photocopiers) are available at all branches for essential use only and limited to 45 minutes. Study spaces at Circle Library, Sutton Central Library and Wallington Library can be booked in advance for maximum 2 hour slots.” (email from service 14.9). 
• Swindon – All click and collect (16.8)
• Tameside – All libraries open from 12 October (3.10)
• Telford and Wrekin – Some opening  from 4 July but with 15 minute maximum visiting time.
• Thurrock –  Grays, Belhus and Corringham, Tilbury, East Tilbury and Chadwell open, with Aveley and Blackshots open soon (27.9)
• 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 – All but Birchwood and Westbrook now open (13.9)
• Warwickshire – All open or click and collect (27.9)
• West Berkshire – all open (20.9)
• 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– 6 open for browsing, 8 opening for click and collect (13.9)
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Click and collect from Maidenhead Library (19.7) Maidenhead open (11.10)
• Wirral – Click and collect (16.8)
• 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 – All 21 branches open (14.9)
• York – All 15 libraries, plus 3 reading cafes, open from 7 September (30.8),  Acomb, Clifton, Tang Hall and York city centre will be open on Mondays (4.10)

Wales – 22 library services

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 – 6 open for browsing (13.9)
• Caerphilly – 7 libraries click and collect (30.8)
• Cardiff – Click and collect in several libraries (1.8)
• Carmarthenshire – All open for browsing (6.9)
• Ceredigion – Click and collect in all libraries (1.8)
• Conwy – Click and collect, bookable computers (30.8)
• Denbighshire – Open by appointment (13.9)
• Flintshire – “You can now visit Buckley, Broughton, Connah’s Quay, Flint, Holywell and Mold Libraries for select browsing, computer use, or to print and access the photocopier, as well as pick up Select and Collect orders.” (11.10)
• Gwynedd – Libraries open by appointment (13.9)
• Merthyr Tydfil – No information provided. (15/7)
• Monmouthshire – Click and collect from Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow, Gilwern Monmouth and Usk Community Hubs. (20.9)
• Neath Port Talbot – Neath, Port Talbot and Pontardawe have select and collect. Returns boxes.
• Newport – 4 libraries open, reduced hours, 15 minute visits (9/8)
• Pembrokeshire – 8 libraries open (4.10) Newport Community Library to offer click and collect (11.10)
• Powys – All click and collect (6.9). 
• 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 – Click and collect in Cwmbran, extended to Pontypool and Blaenavon from 17 August (9.8)
• Vale of Glamorgan – Limited browsing and use of PCs (16.8)
• Wrexham – click and collect. (2.8)

Scotland – 29 services

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

• Aberdeen – 2 open for browsing (6.9)
• Aberdeenshire – 8 libraries now click and collect (6.9).
• Angus – Arbroath and then other libraries will open (4.10)
• Argyll and Bute – 8 click and collect from 14 September (6.9)
• Borders –  Click and collect (6.9)
• Clackmannanshire – Click and collect from The Speirs Centre, Alloa and The Ben Cleuch Centre, Tillicoultry (1.8)
• Dumfries and Galloway – 3 out of 5 open (30.8)
• Dundee – Click and collect from Central (6.9)
• East Lothian – Click and collect (6.9)
• Edinburgh – Central, Kirkliston, McDonald Road, Fountainbridge, Stockbridge and Newington libraries will open from 6 October 2020 (20.9) Kirkliston open (11.10)
• Eilean Siar – 2 click and collect (13.9)
• Falkirk – 7 click and collect (20.9) Falkirk Community Trust (FCT) has announced Falkirk Library will return to business as of Monday, October 12, with seven others to follow throughout the rest of October and the beginning of November (11.10)
• Fife – 24 open (20.9)
• Glasgow – Two-thirds of libraries closed “indefinitely”. Some for click and collect but others feared permanently closed (23/8) 10 open (4.10)
• Highlands – Badenoch, Broadford, Brora, Cromarty, Grantown, Muir of Ord, Portree and Tain open amongst others (27.9)
• Inverclyde – Click and collect from 3 libraries (15.7)
• Midlothian – Click and collect from Dalkeith from 27 July (19.7)
• Moray – 6 libraries click and collect (7/9)
• North Ayrshire – Click and collect (9.8)
• North Lanarkshire – Central and Coatbridge open from 31 August (30.8)
• 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 – 12 branches open for click and collect (6.9)
• South Lanarkshire – 8 open (6.9)
• Stirling – Select and collect from 15.7 (16.7)
• West Dunbartonshire – Several libraries click and collect (6.9)
• 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. 17 libraries open with normal opening hours (13.9)

Libraries reopening for browsing (23/8)

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 – Jersey Library and mobile open, Les Quennevais closed (9/8)

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