IN-PERSON BOOK LENDING AVAILABLE STARTING TODAY WHILE ATHERSTONE TO PROVIDE CLICK AND COLLECT 'TAKEAWAYS' FROM NEXT WEEK

NEW SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE ON RETURN OF VILLAGE HALL FACILITY INCLUDING ONE-WAY SYSTEM, HAND SANITISERS AND STAFF IN FULL PPE

BADDESLEY Ensor has won the race to return in-person book-lending services ahead of neighbouring Atherstone.

The village's community library reopened its doors this morning – almost four months after Covid-19 lockdown brought North Warwickshire to a virtual standstill.

But today joint co-ordinator Karren Sharpe was able to welcome back book fans to a six-day-a-week service at the village hall on Keys Hill.

The library opened alongside Baddesley Community Hub but staying firmly shut "until at least September" is the café with no immediate plans to bring back the various classes and groups that meet in the building – ranging from parent and toddler to knit & natter, slimming, indoor bowling and yoga.

Ms Sharpe told Nub News: "To be honest we're not expecting a big rush, especially as the other activities are not back yet.

"People are nervous about going out. I understand not many have turned out to the pubs since they were reopened."

Last week Atherstone Library launched a "takeaway" service as the first stage of reopening face-to-face library services after the disruption caused by Covid-19.

The new 'click and collect' will enable customers to pre-order books online free of charge and pick them up from the Long Street premises at a pre-arranged time.

The new service is being piloted countywide – with the first collections on an appointment basis going live from today at Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington and Warwick.

Atherstone, along with Stratford-upon-Avon, will follow next Monday – on July 20.

Borrowers found new safety measures in place on return to the village hall including a one-way system, hand sanitisers and staff in full PPE

In addition the library and books have been thoroughly cleaned to Government requirements and a new 72-hour quarantine process has been introduced on items returned to the library.

People visiting the library will be asked to leave names and contact numbers for the Test and Trace system.

The opening times for the library are:

Tuesday from 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 5pm;

Thursday from 10am to 3pm;

Saturday from 10am to 12 noon.

The cafe, which will remains closed untril September and possibly beyond, has been the fulcrum for a weekly Covid service, providing meals for more than 2,000 elderly, vulnerable and self-isolarting peole in the district.

You can contact joint library co-ordinators Karren Sharpe on 07800 530637 (Monday to Wednesday) and Heather Albrighton on 01827 718516 on Thursday to Saturday.