Norfolk’s libraries will all close during national coronavirus lockdown
The Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library in The Forum in Norwich will, along with all other libraries in the county, be closed during the national lockdown. Picture: ANTONY KELLY - Credit: Archant
All of Norfolk’s libraries will be closed during the national lockdown, county council bosses have announced.
Norfolk County Council said that, following the government announcement, all 47 of its libraries, plus its mobile libraries, would close from Thursday, November 5 until further notice.
The county’s libraries closed their doors during the March lockdown and gradually reopened their doors over the course of the summer.
The council had been seeking guidance from the government over whether libraries could remain at least partially open for people who use computers for benefit claims, but has taken the decision to shut them.
Just last week, the council, which had extended how many items people could borrow to 45 just before the first lockdown, had said the number would be cut to 20 and that overdue charges would kick in from November 22.
You may also want to watch:
But people will now not have to rush to return or renew their books.
A spokesman said: “Following the recent government announcement all Norfolk libraries will be closed from Thursday, November 5.
Most Read
- 1 Chocolate factory gets coronavirus cases down to two following outbreak
- 2 Medal of US airman who saved 18 lives in 1953 floods returns to Norfolk
- 3 Ice warning after freezing temperatures overnight
- 4 Covid led to huge fall in Norfolk parking fines and £1.3m budget hole
- 5 Second Banksy-style doctor street art appears outside vaccination centre
- 6 Every Child Online: Funds flood in to schemes around the county
- 7 Surgery turns away people asking for 'spare' Covid vaccines
- 8 'A deserved hoorah!' - Thanks pour in for practice's Covid vaccine rollout
- 9 Councillor asks people to speak up after confronting lockdown rule breakers
- 10 Vandals leave £80,000 trail of destruction in car park
“Library users will not need to renew or return the items they have borrowed as all loans will be automatically renewed and no overdue charges will be applied while libraries are closed.
“Online activities will continue through the Norfolk Libraries and Information Service social media channels and via the Norfolk libraries website where customers can also borrow a wide range of eBooks and magazines.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back when it safe to do so and hope to see as many people as possible online throughout the next month.”
The council had already said its museums which had recently re-opened would have to close.
But Norfolk’s recycling centres will remain open during the second national lockdown, However the reuse shops will close.
