LIVEWIRE has announced the seven library sites which will be reopening next week.

From Wednesday, July 8, libraries will open in Great Sankey, Orford Jubilee and Woolston Neighbourhood Hubs, Stockton Heath, Lymm, Burtonwood and Warrington Museum and Library.

Culcheth, Birchwood, Penketh, Padgate and Westbrook libraries will remain closed.

There will be a continued focus on e-books as well as the Library at Home and a new Order and Collect service.

Emma Hutchinson, managing director of LiveWire, said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce that seven libraries across the borough will be reopening from Wednesday, July 8.

READ > Warrington Museum confirms reopening date

"We recognise the importance of libraries to our communities and the huge amount of work that has gone into raising the profile and developing these libraries over the past few years by both LiveWire staff, our partners, Warrington Borough Council (WBC), the Friends groups and the wider community.

"This is why we have been working very hard to put in a place a range of measures that will allow us to reopen seven library sites across the borough in a safe manner for both customers and staff.

"We wanted to offer a physical library service in all parts of the borough – south, east, west and central Warrington – but to complement this will be our Library at Home and Order and Collect services, as well as our extremely popular digital offer.

"We are working closely with WBC commissioners to regularly review the ongoing re-opening of libraries and what is feasible in the coming months.

"If it becomes possible to open any further libraries sooner, particularly those furthest away from our Hub libraries, we will endeavour do so.

"I'd like to thank our customers for their patience and loyal support during the months we have been closed, as well as Warrington Borough Council and our partners for their continued support."

As well as new hygiene measures and social distancing in libraries, there will be no charges for overdue library books issued from March 1, items of loan have had their loan period extended until September 30 and a contactless returns and issue process.

Cllr Tony Higgins, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure and community, added: "Warrington’s libraries provide a vital resource for our communities and are more important than ever during these difficult times.

"It’s great news that we are now in a position to re-open a number of them.

"The safety of customers and staff is paramount, and we’re working closely with LiveWire as we re-open sites across the borough to ensure that we are able to provide safe, welcoming environments for all customers and staff.

"A great deal of work has taken place to ensure local people can visit the library with confidence, with a range of measures put in place, including more staff to manage social distancing, enhanced hygiene and a new system of quarantining books.

"Safety will be at the heart of everything we do, as we continue the work to re-open every library in the borough, as soon as possible."

For more information on the reopening of libraries visit livewirewarrington.co.uk/news.