THREE of Swindon’s busiest libraries are now open for longer as Swindon Council’s new library strategy comes into force.

West Swindon Library, based in the Link Centre, is open for 10 more hours per week, including on Monday and Wednesday afternoons when it was previously closed.

North Swindon Library is also open for 10 more hours per week, including Mondays, ensuring it is now open seven days a week.

Highworth Library now opens its doors on Monday and Wednesday afternoons so library users can enjoy eight more hours a week.

The extra hours, which came into effect last week, have been made possible by centralising the enquiry service and changing staff timetables.

The council’s library strategy also supports local communities establishing library access points, and sets out an intention to work with the community to extend the opening hours of smaller libraries.