ENHANCING ACCESS—Simi Valley Friends of the Library member Jerry Renyer slides a book down into one of the shiny new 24-hour drive-through book drops outside the Simi Valley Library following the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday morning. The drop boxes will enable library patrons, especially seniors and those with disabilities who cannot easily access the walk-up return boxes, to return books any time of the day. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers The Simi Valley Library recently opened large drive-up drop-off boxes for patrons to conveniently return books, DVDs and other items without having to go inside the library at 2969 Tapo Canyon Road.

The boxes will be open 24 hours a day.

Ventura County provided funding for the materials. The city of Simi Valley provided materials and labor and the Simi Valley Friends of the Library supplied the boxes.

The full-service library houses more than 125,000 items. It’s open every day and offers research assistance, computer labs, meeting room rentals, a literacy program and a multimedia section.

The library is operated by the Ventura County Library Commission.