As part of the phased reopening of libraries an extra hour of click and collect will now be available at Teddington Library.

From today the library will be opening between 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm – giving readers an extra hour every day to use the Click & Collect service.

Six other local libraries will also be joining Teddington with these additional opening hours.

These include: Ham, Hampton Hill, Richmond, Twickenham, East Sheen and Whitton libraries.

The computers in the Information and Reference Library will also be available to use during these hours for one 45-minute session per day per customer. Computer bookings can be made by telephone on 020 8734 3308.

Residents can browse the library service's online catalogue to choose what they would like to read. Books should be reserved online and residents will be notified when they are available for collection.

Those without internet access can telephone 020 8734 3330 and staff will place reservations. Lines are open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.

Staff will quarantine returned books as recommended for 72 hours before passing them on to another reader, in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. When residents arrive at the library to collect their books, a queuing system will be in place outside – ensuring social distancing.

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Councillor John Coombs, Lead Member for Arts and Libraries, said:

"We are pleased that so many people have been using our Click and Collect service – so much so, we are increasing the capacity.

"Additional services will resume over the next couple of months and more library buildings will start to provide the Click & Collect service. Please keep checking the library website to stay up to date with developments. We really appreciate your patience and understanding."

Library services remain limited as government guidelines state that all incoming library books and resources need to be quarantined for 72 hours.

This means many of the library's public spaces are being used to store quarantined items and as such there is insufficient space to resume normal services and be able to socially distance.

A limited browsing service will be introduced from 1 September 2020.