BATLEY Library is to have a £300,000 facelift.

The work is expected to take six months and will mean the library will close from Saturday.

A limited service will be run from Batley Town Hall.

The renovation work includes installing a lift, replacing the heating system and a basement floor and complete redecoration and refurbishment.

"This work will mean that we will be able to offer the residents of Batley a library service that incorporates facilities expected of public libraries in the 21st century," said Ann Blakeley, library manager for Batley and Cleckheaton.

The reduced library service in the Committee Room of

Batley Town Hall, will start on Monday, January 19.

There will be no library service during the week beginning January 12, so staff can carry out the move.

Opening hours at the town hall will be: Mondays and Wednesdays 9.30am to 7pm; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9.30am to 5pm; Saturdays 9am-4pm.

Access to the Committee Room will be via the door near the police station, not the main town hall entrance.

The library will provide a reduced book lending service for adults and children and reduced stocks of videos, DVDs and talking books.

There will be limited reference stock and four computers for use by the public.

Booking is advised.

There will be fax and photocopier facilities. The phone number, 01924 326021, and fax number, 01924 326308, will be the same.

There will be no stock of CDs and no local history information, as census forms, parish registers and newspapers on microfilm/fiche are being sent to Dewsbury Library and can be seen there.

Ms Blakeley added: "We have informed customers of these changes and have been informing them of other libraries in the area, including the mobile library service."