The Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced a pilot project where public libraries will remain open for longer hours in an effort to increase their popularity.

The project, limited to Istanbul for now, will cover the Beyazıt State Library, Orhan Kemal Metropolitan Public Library in Fatih and the Şemsipaşa Municipal Public Library in Üsküdar, Aziz Berker Municipal Public Library in Kadıköy, all of which will open at 8.00 a.m. and will close at 10:30 p.m., starting Saturday.

The Mihrimah Sultan and Selimiye Children's Libraries in Üsküdar will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The project will cover the other libraries in Istanbul in the coming months.

Culture Minister Nabi Avcı said the ministry will be assessing the success of the project before expanding it across the country.