Cheshire East Council is preparing to reopen its 16 libraries and library services on a phased basis but Alderley Edge is not included in the initial plans.
The first libraries will reopen from Monday 6th July with others to follow in two further stages, however owing to the difficulties in ensuring safe social distancing, Alderley, Edge will follow later as conditions allow.
• Monday 6 July - Alsager, Congleton, Crewe, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Poynton and Wilmslow libraries will re-open
• Monday 13 July - Bollington, Handforth, Knutsford and Sandbach libraries will re-open
• Monday 20 July - Disley, Holmes Chapel and Middlewich libraries will re-open
People wishing to use public computers or access the customer service points will have to book an appointment in advance.
Following the pandemic, strict deep cleaning and quarantining of books will become routine and the number of people allowed into a library will have to be limited. Opening hours will also be reduced to allow the extra precautionary measures to be carried out.
Newspapers and magazines will not be available for the foreseeable future and some seating areas and meeting spaces have been removed. Group activities cannot go ahead and meeting rooms for public gatherings will be closed.
Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for communities, said: "Our library services are going to look a lot different but, sadly – but social distancing and the safety of our library members and users, and our staff, is absolutely paramount.
"There is a required 72-hour quarantine period for books and with all the deep cleaning and other measures we need to take, this is bound to impact on the service and our ability to operate in the way that we are used to operating.
"I would like to thank the public and our staff for their understanding and continued support of our excellent library service."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Might we be allowed to know why Alderley Edge is not included in the first, second or third tranche of library openings?
A touch of transparency perhaps?
I am not so paranoid as to fear that Alderley Edge library is yet again on some 'closures list'.