LIBRARIES in Thornbury, Yate and Winterbourne are set to close for two weeks apiece while improvements are carried out to allow for seven-day-a-week opening.

Open Access will launch this October in South Gloucestershire which will enable users to access nine unstaffed libraries – including those in Thornbury, Yate and Winterbourne – during extended hours.

However, each library will be closed for two weeks at a time while security and further computer improvements are installed.

Residents will be able to gain access to the libraries with an upgraded library card.

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for communities and tourism, Cllr Heather Goddard, said: “We are very pleased to be able to bring the benefits of extra opening during unstaffed hours in our libraries.

“We anticipate many people will be able to use the library where they couldn’t in the past because of work or other commitments and it is great to get extra use out of these important buildings when they would otherwise be closed.

“There will be a little disruption during the work to install the new equipment, but we have designed the programme to ensure that if your library is closed for a few days, you will be able to access another library relatively close by.

“Users are also able to make reservations and renew books online and you certainly won’t get a fine if your book is due back while the library is closed.”

The project has been designed so that neighbouring libraries will not be closed at the same time.

Users will still be able to access all online services and no-one will be charged a late return fine if their book would have been due back during a scheduled closure.

Winterbourne Library will be closed from August 3 to 18, Thornbury from August 9 to 23 and Yate from August 21 to September 5.

For more information about library services in South Gloucestershire visit bit.ly/2thC0fU.