To help with its plans to safely re-open library services Wiltshire Council is looking for the views of residents and library users.

The council has put forward three options for how library services might operate during the pandemic and are asking residents for their ideas and feedback.

One of the options put forward is an order and collect service; where library users would make contact via phone or email to request books or material.

This would operate from 10 August at some main library hubs in Wiltshire, and in each of the 18 community areas across the county by the end of September – meaning that 20 libraries could be opened by the end of September.

The second option is the same service but with the ability to pre-book a computer session for those without internet access.

The third option would be a socially distant service, giving some members of the public access to browse the shelves and use the computers.

This would operate across six libraries from the end of August with a maximum of 10 re-opening under this option – staff and social distance requirements depending.

A four-week public consultation is now underway and a survey can be accessed online with hard copies available at County Hall, Trowbridge, Monkton Park in Chippenham and Bourne Hill Salisbury.

The consultation will close on Sunday, July 26.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Wiltshire Council leader, said: “People are rightly passionate about their libraries and that’s been evident in the astonishing take-up of our online services since lockdown in March.

“We’re taking this opportunity to think about how we reopen the service safely, carefully and in a phased way during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have suggested some possible options on how we may reopen library services, but we really need people to share their thoughts and ideas on we can overcome the challenges we face at this time.

“We’re looking forward to hearing what people think.”