RESIDENTS in North Warwickshire are to decide the opening hours of the county's main libraries.

After stringent budget cuts forced the closure of a number of libraries across the region county bosses have announced a comprehensive consultation on the opening hours of remaining libraries.

Cllr Colin Hayfield, portfolio-holder for customers, access and physical assets, said: "We have taken the decision that our customers will decide the opening hours of the libraries. The majority vote will be the option we go with.

"I'd therefore encourage as many people as possible to engage with this consultation, either via the web, or by popping in to your local library and completing a survey," he added.

The four-week consultation gets underway on Monday, (November 14) and will run until Sunday, December 11.

Libraries to have their opening hours decided include Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth.

The consultation is on the future pattern of opening hours for libraries remaining under the Library and Information Service control.

Offering two options the public consultation is available in both paper and electronic formats and the majority vote from the public will decide the future opening hours of the library.

The new opening hours will be introduced from March 31.

More details on the consultation process are available at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries and www.library consult.wordpress.com

In the meantime WCC is continuing to work closely with groups across the county working to develop new community libraries which it is hoped will be open and operational by April 1, 2012.