Libraries in Northern Ireland are set to open their doors once again as part of a pilot scheme.
A ‘book and collect service’ will be available to readers in 90 libraries later this month.
Library members can phone their library to request a selection of books and arrange contactless collection.
As part of the pilot, five libraries will reopen to allow customers access for book browsing and limited access to IT.
Omagh and Lisburn City libraries are reopening on Tuesday 21 July and Bangor Carnegie, Derry Central and Belfast Central libraries will open on Thursday 23 July.
These five libraries are the first phase of a larger pilot to test the new approach following the outbreak of COVID-19.
There will be controls on the number of people allowed in libraries at any one time and customers will be asked to limit themselves to 30 minutes browsing and/or 30 minutes’ computer use initially.
Toilet facilities will be closed during the pilot phase and printing or photocopying will also be unavailable. As public health guidance changes, this preliminary service offering will be reviewed.
Staff will be equipped with relevant PPE, screens will be installed at customer desks, hand sanitiser will be available for all customers entering the library and a high level of cleaning will take place.
Returned books will also be stored for a period in each library before being returned to the shelves.
Customers are asked to follow the guidance and maintain social distancing while inside each library.
Revised, temporary hours for each of the five libraries reopening, times available to return books to each library and operational hours for the new book and bollect service are detailed on the website.