STAFF shortages at county libraries continue to force partial closures as East Lothian Council released a revised opening schedule for its facilities.

Council libraries have faced closures ever since the Covid-19 outbreak, but recent staffing issues have resulted in difficulty fully reopening the sites.

Six of the county’s smaller libraries have been affected, with the larger facilities remaining open on normal hours. A revised timetable, until the end of August, has now been issued for these affected libraries.

East Linton Library will open on Mondays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-6pm, and on Tuesdays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm. It will remain closed all other days.

Longniddry Library will open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm. It will also open on Saturdays between 10am and 1pm.

Port Seton Library will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm. It will also open on Saturdays between 10am and 1pm.

Gullane Library will close on Tuesdays from July 4, remaining open on Mondays and Fridays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm. It will also be open at 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

From this Saturday, Wallyford Library will open on Mondays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm. It will also open on Saturdays between 10am and 1pm.

Finally, Ormiston Library will open only on Fridays between 10am and 1pm, and 2-5pm.

'Temporary changes'

A council statement said: “Due to severe staffing shortages within East Lothian Council Library Services, it has become necessary to make temporary changes to the opening hours of some of our branches.

“Please see the list of these changes. If your local library is not mentioned, it means that the opening hours have not changed for those branches.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to get back to our normal opening hours as soon as possible.

“We have a number of exciting eResources which we are adding to all the time. They are available 24/7 at eastlothian.gov.uk/libraries”