OPENING times at 15 Notts libraries could be extended – just months after they were cut by up to half.

Notts County Council has announced plans to keep the libraries open for an extra 70 hours a week from April next year after finding extra cash in its budget.

The move comes after the council had agreed in April this year to reduce opening hours at 22 of 28 smaller libraries as part of budget cuts.

Councillor John Cottee, the council's cabinet member for culture and community, said: "We genuinely did what we believed would be sustainable for the next 12 months. We had to fit around what we believed was our capital and revenue programme."

Mr Cottee said management restructuring and changes in the way the service is run had led to savings of £110,000, which the council would use to pay for the increased opening hours.

He said: "Having changed some working practices we have made some savings, which we are putting back. The aim was to keep all 60 libraries open. Had we not reduced it (the opening hours), we would have had the opposite effect."

The authority says the new proposal also comes after having listened to the public and monitored the libraries over the last six months to see if any could have their hours increased.

Councillor Alan Rhodes, leader of the council's opposition Labour group, accused the Conservative administration of having created confusion over the way it had handled the library service.

"The Tory administration needs to stop tampering and create a plan for the long-term sustainability for the library service," he said.

"If you look at their record on libraries they have slashed the book fund so our library service is becoming older and out of date. I do not believe that they can claim libraries are safe in their hands."

Mr Rhodes said Labour would support the new strategy.

The new plan for the 15 libraries will be discussed during a meeting of the full council at County Hall, in West Bridgford, tomorrow.

It is part of a new ten-year vision the council has drawn up for its library services.

The strategy also includes plans to improve Bingham Library in 2013-14, and major improvement or replacement schemes at Beeston, Newark and Retford.

E-books will also be made available across all libraries, while the plan also wants to retain free internet access at libraries and develop mobile and community based services for those who cannot visit a library building.

Ian Shaw, chairman of Cotgrave Town Council, welcomed news that his local library could soon be open five hours a week longer than at present.

He said: "In Cotgrave we are a little short of social facilities and I think this is an example of the county council recognising this. The library is well used and will continue to be well used."

Stapleford and Toton libraries are also among those which could see their hours extended.

Beeston West borough councillor Greg Marshall, who campaigned against changes to opening hours at libraries in Beeston, Chilwell, Stapleford, and Toton earlier this year, said: "I am glad the council has recognised the value in which library services are held within the community."

Proposed new opening times

Balderton: increase of five hours from 20 to 25 hours a week.

Bircotes: increase of five hours from 22 to 27 hours a week.

Carlton: increase of five hours from 26 to 31 hours a week.

Cotgrave: increase of five hours from 23 to 28 hours a week.

East Leake: increase of five hours from 22 to 27 hours a week.

Eastwood: increase of five hours from 26 to 31 hours a week.

Keyworth: increase of five hours from 26 to 31 hours a week.

Mansfield Woodhouse: increase of five hours from 26 to 31 hours a week.

Ollerton: increase of five hours from 22 to 27 hours a week.

Ravenshead: increase of five hours from 22 to 27 hours a week

Ruddington: increase of five hours from 22 to 27 hours a week.

Stapleford: increase of five hours from 26 to 31 hours a week.

Toton: increase of two and a half hours from 17.5 to 20 hours a week.

Farnsfield: increase of four and a half hours from 10.5 to 15 hours a week.

Woodthorpe: increase of six hours from nine to 15 hours a week.