A LIVERPOOL library has been closed for more than four months after a staff member was hurt in an accident.

Lister Drive library in Tuebrook was shut down for health and safety reasons to enable a full survey of the 100-year-old building.

No date was set for its reopening, and community leaders admit they are worried that it will remain closed.

But leisure officials today insisted the library would reopen once it had been brought up to modern standards.

The ECHO understands they were seriously concerned that more accidents could happen because of the building’s old-fashioned structure, which includes timber window frames and sandstone gate posts.

The library closed on December 19 after a staff member was injured by a falling gate.

Liberal party leader Steve Radford, who represents Tuebrook, today demanded a guarantee that the library would reopen.

“I was originally told the library was temporarily shut due to an accident, but that steps were being taken to reopen it.

“I want efforts made to meet this commitment. Residents in this area have as much right to a library as people living anywhere else.

“It is a beautiful old building, and the council should be looking at finding more uses for it, not closing it.”

The council has apologised to residents for the long closure and urged them to use other libraries in Old Swan and Clubmoor.

Lister Drive library was previously open five days a week.

A council spokesman said: “The library was closed so we could carry out a thorough check and make sure it is safe.

“We have completed extensive structural surveys and are now preparing a work programme of necessary repairs.”