Following the government’s announcement of a national lockdown starting 5th November, Libraries Unlimited confirms that libraries in Devon and Torbay will be open for the free Choose & Collect service.
Government legislation states that libraries can continue to provide essential services during the November lockdown.
Libraries Unlimited Chief Executive Alex Kittow said: “Our libraries have been extremely busy this week as customers take the opportunity to stock up on books for the national lockdown. The Government recognise the vital services we deliver to our communities and the new legislation enables us to continue providing a wide range of services. Our free Choose and Collect service is available in most of our libraries across Devon and Torbay and on our Devon Mobile library service. Our Home Library Service will continue reaching our more vulnerable and isolated customers.”
“Our library staff and support staff will continue working during lockdown ensuring that our services are available for all. Our stock team are updating our digital library collections ensuring that we have eBooks and eAudiobooks widely available. Libraries will be contacting local community groups in order to support the wider community, where we can, and staff will be telephoning our most vulnerable customers as we know that our telephone calls in the last lockdown were a valuable lifeline for some people. Do regularly check our website and with your local library to keep up to date on library news throughout November.”
The Devon Mobile Library service will offer the Choose & Collect service and the Home Library service will continue to run during the national lockdown.
To assist library customers, Libraries Unlimited has put the following temporary arrangements in place:
- Existing loans due back between 5th November and 2nd December have been extended to week commencing 11th January 2021
- Extended book loans to 10 weeks on any books borrowed from Thursday 5th November
- You can borrow up to 24 books
- Extended loans on DVD/CDs/audiobooks to 10 weeks on items borrowed from Thursday 5th November (no increase in the charge for DVD/CDs giving you 10 weeks for the price of one!)
- Suspended reservation charges through to 31st March 2021 as items may take longer than usual to become available.
The digital library remains open, you can continue to view and explore our catalogues and resources online. We have eBooks, audiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers that you can access for free using your library card and we have plenty on offer particularly if you are needing to keep busy at this time.
Events in libraries remain suspended for now but you can still enjoy the activities and events that libraries are streaming and sharing online. Find your local library on social media (Facebook and Twitter) to enjoy these events.
Library Services:
Choose and Collect
To use the free of charge Choose and Collect service telephone or email your local library, library staff will select your books or DVDs and you can collect them from the library entrance at a pre-arranged time.
Book deliveries
Exeter library only. Exeter’s local Book Delivery service allows you to borrow books, DVDs and other library stock from Exeter library if you live within 5 miles. Simply telephone or email, library staff will select items based ony our discussion and make a delivery to your home.
For books not currently stocked in your local library or if you live further than 5 miles from Exeter Library please contact Exeter Library regarding the Books by Post service. Due to a kind donation Exeter Library are able to offer this postal service for free until further notice.
Mobile Libraries
To use the mobile library Choose and Collect service telephone or email the base library used by your mobile library. If you need to confirm the base library please check devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/mobilelibraries. The collection date will be your usual mobile library day according to the timetable and will be confirmed by the base library.
Mobile Libraries will be following their usual timetables but are unable to visit schools, nurseries and care homes for the time being.
Home Library Service
The Home Library Service have resumed deliveries from the most libraries. Please contact your local library or email [email protected] for further details.
You can review loans online and renew your books via devonlibraries.org.uk and torbaylibraries.org.uk. If you do not have online access you can renew your books by phoning your local library.
Not currently a library member? You can join the library for free at devonlibraries.org.uk or torbaylibrary.org.uk. Once you have completed the online joining form, you will be given a temporary [UNREG] number which will enable you to access our digital library immediately. As and when libraries re-open, your temporary membership will be process and libraries will issue a library card to you.
Your local library is managed by Libraries Unlimited, the charity responsible for running Devon and Torbay Libraries. For regular updates visit librariesunlimited.org.uk.
