Why can't libraries do click and collect?

[IDontMindMarmite]

The libraries in my area aren't and I don't really understand why.

We are. Volunteer run library. People can call up and leave a message on the answer phone, email, ask on FB or holler from the doorway (though that last one is not officially offered!).

Ours has Borrowbox, so there is a limited range of audio books and ebooks available.

I'm mostly stocking up on second hand books from World of Books . I miss the library...

Maybe because the staff don’t feel safe to work, have vulnerable staff and don’t want to risk their safely working together just because people are bored and want to pick up a book to read.
Also perhaps staff are at home educating their children too.

Bonkers service from our library.. it was open at the last lockdown and you could go in. However, you couldn't peruse the books and you couldn't borrow any???

Our local library does click and collect, although it's not great as the catalogue/filing system is poor (I requested 10 books which were showing as 'on the shelf' and they only managed to find 4). I'm also a member of the library in the next borough which is much better, and also use the digital library service for ebooks and magazines.

Books are not essential like food. So therefore why should staff be risking their health?
And also most (all I suspect now) library services offer e-services in the manner of ebooks, e audiobooks, e magazines and e newspapers along with a wealth of online databases and services.

Our did c&c before xmas but they only asked what authors you wanted and they gave me 2 books I already had read....not great......also the librarian came to the door in full ppe, plastic overall, mask, visor, gloves...opened the door about 10 inches to give me my books out....all very dramatic and a bit silly really.

Would it even be legal to go and collect them? Seems like a questionable "reasonable excuse".

@Notnownotneverever

Maybe because the staff don’t feel safe to work, have vulnerable staff and don’t want to risk their safely working together just because people are bored and want to pick up a book to read. Also perhaps staff are at home educating their children too.

I feel completely safe going into my empty library with one other person and putting books into bags for people to pick up at the door. I am absolutely bloody delighted to do it, in fact, as it's the only tiny bit of normality left in my life.

We have that even in normal times; order online, they email when it comes in, I go and get it . Now if you fill in a form, they’ll also go and find six or eight books you might like off the shelves and you collect them.

YABU, because a lot of libraries are doing this.

@safariboot

Would it even be legal to go and collect them? Seems like a questionable "reasonable excuse".

Yes.

You can leave home to access goods and services.

Don't know about Click and collect but the ebooks, magazines, newspapers and audiobooks service is excellent.
Its a 18 miles round trip to collect books for me, and the mobile library has stopped again. I probably won't go back to the mobile library.

Also a lot of the book bags we put together are for children. They've had so much else taken away from them, being able to put together a dozen books they might like from the library every week or so which might put a smile on their face is WORTH IT.

Ours does....it's a mobile library through the villages and it's still operating. You order online and turn up, masked, when the van is next in the village and hand over your last books, collect your next lot...

Our home library service is also still running for housebound library members - we make deliveries to their door, as we always have.

Mine is it works great, you reserve your books online, they email when they’re ready to collect and you drop off the returns direct to some shelves they’ve set up outside

Guess it depends on the local authority and if they have the same online system, it’s really simple the set up ours has

Library services are allowed to open but don't have to. The one I work for took, in my opinion the sensible decision to close to protect the staff and the wider community. This is also the the recommendation of the Trade Union that represents the staff.

Mine does click and collect and still delivers to the housebound.

@safariboot

Would it even be legal to go and collect them? Seems like a questionable "reasonable excuse".

Yes because lots of libraries are offering this service and they’re run via local councils who will obviously be following the rules in their area, you can only join a local library, it’s not going to be a huge journey

Ours does a brilliant click and collect service, with thorough quarantining measures in place.
They also offer a borrow bag service - tell them the genre you're after, and they'll pick out a selection. Brilliant for getting kids books because I just tell them the age and style of story the child wants. It's exciting to see what they put in our bag!

@Notnownotneverever

Books are not essential like food. So therefore why should staff be risking their health? And also most (all I suspect now) library services offer e-services in the manner of ebooks, e audiobooks, e magazines and e newspapers along with a wealth of online databases and services.

Well it appears that plenty of other libraries have managed to find a way to do this safely. With no customers wandering around I'd imagine it's pretty easy to implement and control safety measures.

I'm in the borough of Solihull, near Birmingham for those who asked. I checked the council website where it says they are closed and not offering click and collect. They do offer the e-book thing but I've tried it before and it doesn't hold a torch to a proper book for me.

I know it's not an essential service but I'd say it's probably more valuable to society than Costa which is inexplicably allowed to open.

@Notnownotneverever

Maybe because the staff don’t feel safe to work, have vulnerable staff and don’t want to risk their safely working together just because people are bored and want to pick up a book to read. Also perhaps staff are at home educating their children too.

It's funny how you choose to frame it. I mean if that's the case, why publicly fund libraries at all? If you were to place it in the context of literacy and education that might provide a different angle.

Ours does

Ours do.