ILKLEY Library is planning to welcome back customers in early August.

It is part of an extension of Bradford District’s Libraries new ‘Order and Collect’ service for books.

The new service allows customers to order books by reserving from the Bradford Libraries’ online catalogue as well as by email or phone. The service is already being offered at libraries in Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

Customers will be able to collect their book orders at an agreed time slot from the library. There will be a single collection point and customers will also be able to return their books.

From early August Ilkley Library can be contacted by email at: ilkley.library@bradford.gov.uk or call 01943 436225.

The failure to re-open Ilkley library in the first wave has been criticised by district councillors and MP Robbie Moore. Councillor Kyle Green (Con, Ilkey) said: “Much as Golden Butts was not included in waste site reopening plans this is another example where the council has chosen to ignore those living on the edge of the district.

“With schools now broken up and parents keen to support children reading by picking up books for summer reading schemes as well as many residents now keen to start returning to using the library, this is another example of bad Bradford policy that ignores the residents of Ilkley.”

Councillor Mike Gibbons added: “Ilkley residents use the Library extensively and deserve to be supplied with the amenity just as much as any other Bradford area.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are working hard to prepare for rollout to all libraries as soon as reasonably possible and really looking forward to welcoming our customers back again. We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding at this difficult time.

“We’ve seen over 1,000 books reserved and borrowed in the first two weeks of offering the Order and Collect service and we are really pleased that we will be able to offer this service to more of our customers across the district who have missed using the library.”

In addition to the order and collect service the Home Library Service is delivering books to customers across the district who are less mobile, and digital access to e-books and other online resources are available through the libraries webpages at www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries

You can also join in with popular story times and other events on the Bradford Libraries Facebook page.

Information and fun activities included in the Summer Reading Challenge 2020 can be found on the Summer Reading Challenge Silly Squad website www.sillysquad.org.uk