LIBRARIES in the borough will soon be opening six days a week instead of five.

The extra opening day, Wednesday, will begin on August 21 and the libraries affected include Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne and Hindley.

The libraries will be open from 9am to 2pm on Wednesdays.

The opening hours at Leigh Library at The Turnpike Gallery and Wigan and Leigh Archives now on the ground floor of Leigh Town Hall are also changing from Monday, August 21.

The library will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Wigan and Leigh Archives will be open from 9am to 2pm Monday to Wednesday, from noon to 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays and from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays, as will the Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne and Hindley libraries.

The opening hours have been changed to reflect Wigan Council's recent libraries consultation which found that residents value their libraries as community hubs.

Lesley O'Halloran, assistant director for customer services at the council, said: “We understand that residents value their libraries as vital centres to their communities, which is why we are maintaining Saturday opening hours and extending the number of days libraries are open.

"By taking an innovative approach to meeting our budget savings and actually increasing access we are able to provide a service to meet demands shaped by feedback.

“We do appreciate that the new opening hours may impact times for some existing groups using libraries to meet.

"In these instances we will work with such groups to find the best solution.”

For more information visit bit.ly/2vEfUYE.