The Isle of Wight Council's six libraries will reopen this month (July), with returning books being quarantined for a period of time.
From Monday (6) the libraries team will be welcoming the return of any books and talking books that have been on loan now for several months. No ‘late fees’ will be applied.
At this time, libraries will not be fully open as people will be used to.
Returned books will be ‘quarantined’ for 72 hours before they are loaned out again for the foreseeable future to contain the spread of coronavirus.
An ‘order and collect’ service is being developed so that people will be able to borrow books once again, as is a home delivery service to those on the shield list or self-isolating. The council says further details will be released soon.
Libraries manager, Rob Jones, said:
“We really need to refill our shelves before we can start loaning out books; we ask that anyone who has library books languishing at home throughout lockdown, please return them to us.
“We can’t wait to welcome our customers back to our libraries in a safe way when we can — we’ve missed you!”
The library book drop-off times will be 10am to 12 noon and from 2pm until 4pm at the following libraries and on the following days, from 6 July:
- Cowes: Monday/Tuesday/Friday.
- Freshwater: Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday.
- Newport: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/
Thursday/Friday. - Ryde: Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/
Friday. - Sandown: Tuesday/Thursday/Friday.
- Ventnor: Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday
During lockdown, a number of library staff were redeployed to support the coronavirus crisis response, including delivering food parcels and manning the council’s telephone helpline.
Some library favourites, including ‘rhyme time’ and story time sessions, were offered digitally via social media.
Rob added:
“Lots of library services are available digitally and I’d really encourage people to keep accessing those e-books and other things until we are in a position to open a more ‘normal’ library service.”
For more details visit www.iow.gov.uk/council/