“Please bring your library books back!”

Solihull residents are being asked to return their library books – so they can be issued safely next month.

In order to give library staff sufficient time to quarantine books and prepare them for safe reissue, people are asked to return their library books to any of Solihull’s libraries from 10am to 1pm on Saturday 20 June or Thursday 25 June.

On Monday 6 July staff at Solihull Library Service will start issuing books through a new Click and Collect scheme at The Core. This will be followed by similar schemes at Chelmsley Wood Library and Shirley Library a few weeks later on 20 July. The service will be available in 30 minutes slots with users submitting requests for books via an online booking system on the Library Service web pages.

Forms will be available online from Monday 29 June for collections from The Core and from Monday 13 July for Chelmsley Wood and Shirley Libraries. Anyone unable to use the online form can place an order by phoning 0121 704 8001. The Home Library Service will also restart on 6 July.

Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities, Cllr Alison Rolf, said: “The launch of Click and Collect and the restart of our Home Library Service next month means we will have two very safe ways for people to borrow library books. Please help us to make this a success by dropping your book loans off this Saturday or next Thursday.

“Unfortunately we are a long way off from opening our doors as normal – so please don’t visit our libraries yet, other than to drop off your books for safe reissue.

“If you are unable to drop books off at these times and friends and family can’t do this for you, please don’t worry. We understand it may be difficult for some, so all books currently out for loan have had their return dates extended until the end of September. But to those of you who can – please bring your library books back!”