Two years after massive budget cuts reduced the opening times of libraries in Oxfordshire, £80,000 is to be pumped in to the service.

The move aims to make up for the cuts when Oxfordshire County Council faced a financial crisis which threatened widespread closure of Oxfordshire's libraries.

Low Government funding for the county was blamed for the drastic cuts to opening times. Opening hours at the eight largest libraries in the county were cut by ten per cent. The remaining 35 had their hours cut by 15 per cent. The total cuts saved the council £165,000 a year.

Last year the Government increased funding and five of the larger libraries had their hours restored.

The remaining 38 will have their extend hours in October.

A further £200,000 is to be spent on new books and £30,000 on newspapers and periodicals.