LIBRARIES across the Kingdom made a return this week as ONFife announced a new 'Connect & Collect' initiative.

Their home delivery service for housebound members resumed this week but yesterday (Wednesday) marked the start of members being able to return and collect books.

Customers can 'connect' via ONFife's website or call their nearest branch to have a selection of up to 10 books put together that they can then collect from the library door.

They will be able to do this at the following branches: Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dalgety Bay, Duloch, Rosyth, Oakley, Lochgelly (Jennie Lee Library), Cowdenbeath and Cardenden.

Requests for specific titles are unavailable right now but the surprise 'lucky dip' will allow members to state their reading tastes and ONFife will match them up with a selection of books to read.

"This is a massive achievement for our teams to be able to start offering a service to library members from three-quarters of our branches and it follows months of very complex planning to make sure staff and customers are safe and confident," said Michelle Sweeney, director of creative development and delivery.

"We know what libraries mean to customers and how much they've been missed.

"We launched a survey with members so that they can help shape how services are rolled out and within days we have had more than 3,000 responses, with lots of positive and encouraging messages."

The next stage of re-opening, when members will be able to enter the buildings for limited browsing and to use PCs, is expected to be in the week beginning August 3, ONFife stated.

Full public access, but with a limited service, will then commence from week commencing September 7.

However, these dates are subject to change depending on guidance at those times and it is expected that some restrictions and protective measures will still be required.

"We can't wait to fully open our doors and welcome people back in again but until then we look forward to seeing customers with Connect & Collect," added Michelle Sweeney.

Details of how to use Connect & Collect can be found online at: www.onfife.com/connectandcollect