York library staff will be joining together for their first staff conference next month.

As part of its continuous service improvement programme, the library service will be holding a York Libraries Staff Conference on Wednesday 7 November.

To enable all library staff to take part in this training event, six libraries will be closed on 7 November.

These are:

York Central Library
Bishopthorpe Library
Clifton Library
Dringhouses Library
New Earswick Library
Poppleton Library
Haxby Library

The mobile library will also not be operating on this date (7 November). It would normally visit Holtby, Hopgrove, Kexby, Murton and Stockton-on-Forest on this day.

Information has been displayed at all the libraries to let people know about the conference. Books normally due back on this day have been issued for return the following day, or on a later, mutually convenient, date.

"Bringing the service together in this way for one day is a vital part of Libraries’ continous service improvement. It is helping us to align the service with local and national priorities and build an excellent 21st Century library service for the people of York. It is also part of service planning to put in place improvements recommended by the council's scrutiny panel. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused on the day," said Fiona Williams, head of libraries and heritage.

For further information about the library services, please contact your local council library, see www.york.gov.uk/libraries or telephone Alison Jones, Strategic Manager: Children, Young People and Families, on 01904 554310.