Staffordshire Library is starting a new service which sends messages to members' mobile phones when their reserved books are ready.

The idea follows the success of the library's automated telephone notification for requests.

In the future messages about other library matters, events or the arrival of new titles will also be sent out.

Olivia Spencer, county librarian said: "Text messaging provides us with a new, instant means of communicating with our library members.

"It is a method, which everyone can associate with and many have chosen to use.

"It enables us to instantly notify our borrowers of reservations that are ready to be collected, which in turn speeds up the process of item pick up."