PINNER Library will be the first branch in Harrow to get fitted with self-service technology.

Harrow Council claim the refit to all 11 libraries in the borough will allow them to reduce running costs by £1.1million – savings which will ensure all branches stay open.

Pinner Library in Marsh Road will close for one week from Thursday, April 7 as three new self-service machines are installed, while counters will be replaced by smaller staff points.

Additional staff will be on site in the weeks after the library reopens to show visitors how to use the new machines.

Councillor Rekha Shah (Labour), portfolio holder for community and cultural services, said: "When government cuts are putting huge pressure on our services we need to think differently about how we can maintain what we've got in Harrow, especially when costs are likely to increase in the future.

"This new technology will modernise our branches, allow staff to focus on serving customers instead of doing admin, and ultimately provide a better service at less cost. I'm proud that we are doing this at a time when many other boroughs are closing libraries. I'd like to thank residents in advance for their patience while this work is carried out."

Bob Lawrence library in Edgware is the next branch to be modernised in late April.