MANY of Kent’s libraries are to open for longer after a major review of opening hours.

Kent County Council says the new opening hours will see its 106 libraries open for an extra 310 hours a week or 15,626 hours a year.

Library chiefs are also planning to extend their policy of opening some libraries on Sunday and intend to add to the four currently open over the next year.

Full details of how opening hours at each of the county’s libraries have yet to be worked out.

But while there was good news on opening hours, it was coupled with a hint that a wide-ranging review of libraries might eventually see some small libraries facing closure.

Cllr Mike Hill (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for community services, said the review underway was examining how libraries could improve and whether some could offer additional facilities and services.

But he hinted it might also spell bad news.

“We are going to look at all our libraries to see where we can improve the services we provide. I am not saying that no library will close but if anyone says that is the purpose of the review, they are wrong,” he said.

“There are 106 libraries in Kent and some of them are only open for a few hours a week and that is something no commercial organisation would indulge in. I am keen on setting libraries up as community centres,” he added.

In opinion polls and surveys carried out by KCC, people said they were confused by the differing opening hours in some districts and wanted to see hours extended throughout the week and on Saturdays.