Dawlish Library has announced its 'roadmap to reopening', along with the rest of Devon's libraries.

The plans are based around the Government's national four-step plan to ease lockdown, and could change if the necessary targets for reducing Covid infections and continuing the vaccination roll-out are not met.

From Monday, March 29, the Choose and Collect service will restart and some libraries will offer computer access for essential uses. This will need to be booked by phoning Dawlish Library on 01626 862 529 or emailing [email protected]

From Monday, April 12, there will be some opening hours for book browsing and computer sessions, with Covid-secure working practices remaining in place. More information on opening hours will be available nearer the time. It will also be possible to return books, CDs and DVDs that library users have held on to during lockdown. All items that would have been due back before April 4 have been automatically extended to June 28 2021.

From Monday, May 17, the meeting space will be available for small groups of six or under, as the 'rule of six' allows indoor meetings.

From Monday, June 21, the library will be able to start running events again and allowing groups of more than six to use the meeting area.

'Customer feedback has boosted staff morale'

The chief executive of Libraries Unlimited, Alex Kittow, said: "We welcome the government's roadmap and structure for reopening. This is still a time to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines and to continue to follow the 'hands, space, face'. We encourage our customers to continue to follow the stay at home guidance (until 29th March) and to stay local (from 29th March) visiting your local library rather than making bigger journeys.

"Our library staff have served our communities in Devon and Torbay throughout the pandemic and have responded to the rapid change. We have continued our library services even when our physical buildings have been closed. We've appreciated the feedback, messages and gratitude expressed by our customers. This has helped us to fine-tune our offer and it has been morale boosting for staff to know what difference they are making in these challenging times.

"I know staff are keen to open our doors and to welcome customers back into our libraries. With the roadmap we have a plan in place and hopefully we can be offering our in-person library service from late spring/early summer. Our library spaces are Covid secure and in the lead up to reopening we will update risk assessments and ensure our Covid protocols are in place.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates on our website and via social media. We'll publish full event details as soon as we receive the government green light."

Full details of Devon Libraries' 'roadmap to reopening' are available on the Libraries Unlimited website.

Dawlish Library has a variety of books for sale, which have been donated to the library to help raise funds. All are in good or very good condition and are priced at just 50p each. Photos of the books that are available can be seen on the library's Facebook page; anyone wanting to buy them can send staff a message on Facebook or email [email protected]