DEVIZES Library is to become a central hub for people in the town to get information on Wiltshire Council services as well as borrow books.

On Tuesday Wiltshire Council announced that it will be closing its office in Snuff Street and moving staff to the library in Sheep Street.

A new electronic system will also allow customer to use the building outside of normal library opening hours.

A spokesman said: "Along with the current library facilities, the hub will offer the opportunity for people to access many more council services including council tax, housing benefits, and registrations, as well as community space for meetings, events and activities.

"As part of Wiltshire Council’s strategy to reduce its number of buildings and make services more accessible, the services provided from the customer centre in Snuff Street will move into the new hub this summer."

The council wants the hub to become the first port of call for people to access all council services as well as a range of community groups and activities.

An Open+ swipe access scheme will be introduced to allow library customers, community groups and visitors to access the building and its facilities outside of the opening hours of the library.

The spokesman said: "The Open + access system was introduced into the first community hub in Calne and has been extremely successful allowing the building to be used for meetings and events outside of library opening hours without additional staff costs.

"The new hub in Devizes will see the implementation of flexible shelving in the library area to enable the space to be used for larger meetings and events, such as the community area board meetings and local community events."

Wiltshire Council leader Baroness Scott said: “We see the provision of community hubs as vital for local areas. It means that people can access local services and facilities and have flexible space for the community to use. It makes sense to combine the services currently provided in Snuff Street into the library.

“The new hub in Devizes will be modelled on the successful Calne Community Hub and I’m sure it will be just as popular and well used. Libraries are at the heart of local communities, and the buildings provide a safe place for meetings and group use, and the new hub model will help to make this vital service sustainable into the future.

“We are proud that no libraries have closed in Wiltshire and I have to say a huge thank you to the 867 volunteers that currently support this key front line service.”