Shepton Mallet Library will be opening its doors again early next month.

Somerset Libraries has announced that the Market Place building will reopen on Monday August 3 at 10am.

The library will look and feel different as some processes temporarily change.

Social distancing measures will be in place and a new order and collect service will be available as library users will not initially be able to browse.

The service enables users to place an order for a selection of books, talking books or DVDs that staff hand-pick based on popular titles, specific interests and favourite authors.

These will then be available to collect from the library, with the items placed inside a paper bag and handed over by staff.

The library will open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1.30pm and Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm. It will be closed on Wednesday.

Other changes will mean:

- The reservations service will not be up and running straight away

- Return dates for any items borrowed prior to March 19, when the library closed, will be extended to September 2020

- Staff will be unable to accept donations of books until further notice

- All items will have a standard four-week loan period

- Hire charges for DVDs and Talking Books will be suspended

- Internet access will be available for those who need it most and people will be asked to pre-book a one-hour maximum session in advance. Face coverings are required

- Photocopying is temporarily unavailable

- Staff will be unable to accept payments via cash or card