FOR the first time ever, book lovers will be able to borrow items from Stevenage Central Library on Sundays from next month. The move is part of perhaps the biggest shake-up in Hertfordshire Library Service s 82-year history. New, extended opening hours,

FOR the first time ever, book lovers will be able to borrow items from Stevenage Central Library on Sundays from next month.

The move is part of perhaps the biggest shake-up in Hertfordshire Library Service's 82-year history.

New, extended opening hours, which will affect virtually every library in the county, come into force on Monday, March 5.

The initiative is in response to people telling the county council that they wanted longer, more understandable and convenient opening times.

The clear message was that the current opening and closing times were confusing and inconsistent.

Stevenage Central is one of five libraries which will join Watford in opening on Sundays from 1 until 5pm. In total it will have an extra 7.5 hours a week.

Stevenage Old Town Library will open an extra 3.5 hours including Wednesdays from 2 to 6pm

In North Herts, Hitchin will have an extra 3.5 hours, Letchworth GC an extra 11.5 hours including Wednesdays from 9am to 8pm, Baldock an extra 10 hours including Thursdays from 9am to 5pm and Knebworth an extra 3.5 hours including Wednesdays from 2 to 6pm

Letchworth GC county councillor Keith Emsall, executive member for community safety and culture, said: "These improvements have come about as a result of the massive response to our extensive consultation and public meetings. We had a lot of very positive feedback, but it was also obvious that people wanted their libraries to be open at times which fit in with their lifestyles.