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Original poster

Has your local public library reopened ?

37 replies

bigchris · 29/09/2020 15:51

Ours has but the smaller branch libraries haven't

It's very quiet too and it's all rules and one way systems, masks and quarantining books, no reservations etc

OP posts:
Original poster
bigchris · 29/09/2020 15:51

And teenagers can't study there after school, no rhyme times or storylines, it's so sad

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TinySleepThief · 29/09/2020 15:53

No. All 3 of the closest libraries to me are still closed and none of them show any signs of reopening any time soon. Sad

toomanyspiderplants · 29/09/2020 15:55

sort of. You can order any book they have at any library in the county for free . ok I can't browse but quite like this new system

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Quackersandcheese3 · 29/09/2020 15:56

Yes but only couple weeks ago. With a click and collect type system in place .

Michaelbaubles · 29/09/2020 15:58

Ours has. It’s very quiet, masks on etc. You have to give your details at the desk (why they can’t just scan my card I don’t know) and then you have to go round the one way system. The last time I knew there was a book of mine on the reservations shelf and I went to get it. I had my hand on it when the woman told me off as she was supposed to get it for me. Bad me, I just took it and walked off - there was NOBODY ELSE IN THE LIBRARY except me and the staff so I wasn’t endangering lives.

fourplusfour · 29/09/2020 16:00

I work in a library. We've been open for collecting reservations since July. No browsing for the foreseeable future though. It's definitely had an impact on our borrowers.

ForestbytheSea · 29/09/2020 16:00

Ours has been open to collect reservations for a while and last week opened for browsing. I went into collect some books. They have removed all the seating, and all the groups like book group and craft and chat are now online.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 29/09/2020 16:03

Yes, it reopened in July with a one way system and only allowed in for 10 minutes.

Original poster
bigchris · 29/09/2020 16:05

You can browse in ours but only a certain number of people at a time, no time limit

Our local museum is like a ghost building , no tourists to go in it

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TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 29/09/2020 16:06

nope, I'm really missing it, my DS and I used to go to bookbug, the kids song and rhyme thing all the time, it was a great time waste when he was tiny!

Original poster
bigchris · 29/09/2020 16:07

I worry that being so strict will be the death of the local library Sad
No sure why click and collect is safer than browsing, it's not lkke they'd be hordes in

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Original poster
bigchris · 29/09/2020 16:07

Exactly @TheLovleyChebbyMcGee, amd the online things arent the same, may as well just wacth cbeebies !

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Pet8 · 29/09/2020 16:13

No. We lost our local library due to austerity cuts anyway.

MrsJonesAndMe · 29/09/2020 16:19

No and I think the council will try and keep it that way. Used to be thriving community areas with song time, knit and natter and bus passes etc. A lifeline for a lot of lonely elderly Sad

confusedofengland · 29/09/2020 16:24

I volunteer in our village library. I am also a supply library assistant for all the libraries in the county, but I haven't been called upon for that yet!

All the libraries in our county have fully reopened, operating normal hours. Customers may browse for up to 15 minutes, reserve books online & collect at the library, use the PC & internet (although we have 1 instead of 3), scan & print documents. There are currently no activities, such as Rhyme Time & Scrabble and these are sorely missed, as they are very popular. As library staff/volunteers, we are not supposed to help customers in the usual way & cannot have a work PC at the front, having instead to process books in the back room. Any books that are returned we must quarantine for 48 hours minimum before processing them.

So, all in all, it sounds like we are better off than some places but still not where we would like to be!

Our library can vary hugely as to how busy it is, but apparently the flagship city centre library is down to 15% of its pre-lockdown user numbers.

confusedofengland · 29/09/2020 16:25

We also operate a one way system but do not enforce it if the customers are the only ones in the library.

Pachonga · 29/09/2020 16:26

Yes, opened ages ago. They either bring your pre-ordered books out to you (masked and gloved-up) or you can now pop in and get them from the counter (plexiglass/ masks/ gloves). No other library services available.

BogRollBOGOF · 29/09/2020 16:31

The local one isn't open. It's based in the leisure centre.

No point in going to a library where you can't browse or relax and mooch.

I used to love popping down to the local library to brighten up a boring and lonely afternoon on maternity leave.

22WR · 29/09/2020 16:40

Of the 5 or 6 in our borough, 3 are open including my local one. Prior to COVID they operated an Open+ system where it was only staffed during certain hours but self serve the remaining time which was great as it opened til 8pm. Now it's back to only the old staffed hours which makes it difficult to get there outside of Saturday mornings. They've also recently reopened the reservation system. You're allowed to browse too but all seating has been removed. There's a 1 way system in place and you have to give your details to a staff member manning a desk. There are far more library staff in there than customers, and far more staff than there used to be. It seems a bit odd to me, as I'm sure there are better ways to organise it. However we're not complaining as we're very grateful it's open.

Original poster
bigchris · 29/09/2020 16:50

Oh it's so sad

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TabbyM · 29/09/2020 16:51

The main one has thank goodness. No requests though and no new books so still waiting for Troubled Blood and Midnight Sun..

lifestooshort123 · 29/09/2020 18:14

Ours has been open for a few weeks now. Shorter opening hours and a 15-min supermarket sweep visit (but they don't enforce it!). Tbh it's a soulless experience now, no magazines/papers, no comfy chairs, no gossiping with the staff. They've opened up the online reservation system so I was straight in with £6-worth of goodies (OAPs have to pay) but I don't know when anything might appear. I feel sorry for the staff and hope we don't lose our local (library not pub - I don't give a fig about our local pub!!).

oreosoreosoreos · 29/09/2020 18:29

Ours has re-opened but only for click and collect and returns - all done at the door, you're not allowed inside, and you have to book a time slot for collections.

They prefer people to use the online system, but you can also order books over the phone, and they're also happy to do a random selection of books for you - you tell them what sort of thing you like and they'll select a few. The area surrounding the library has quite a few OAPs, so I think it's nice that they've done something to try and include those who can't use a computer.

TempestHayes · 29/09/2020 18:34

No, all closed.

I know a friend in another location whose library opened, but they just chuck 6 random books at you, which strikes me as defeating the point.

Imagine, we could live in one of those civilised nations, with restaurants, cinemas, schools and libraries.

nosswith · 29/09/2020 18:37

Yes in a limited way.