Why can't libraries do click and collect?

[IDontMindMarmite]

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

There's click and collect here plus they are delivering to those who are shielding

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.

One of my colleagues died a couple of weeks ago. Two others (that I know of) are currently infected. We are ‘covid secure’ and we don’t feel remotely safe. It isn’t just customers, it’s staff having to travel in on public transport. Staff working together in old, poorly ventilated buildings. Staff having to share computers and desks. Yes we sanitise everything we can, yes we all wear masks, yes we socially distance (not so easy in smaller branches). And my LA is pretty decent, they provide ppe, they stagger our start and end times, they have removed customer computer access during lockdown, they pay us when we have to self isolate, they back us against customers who complain about the restrictions. I know people who work in libraries where the staff have to provide their own ppe - masks, gloves, hand santiser, cleaning spray, everything - so I guess we’re lucky. And still staff are dying during lockdown. So people can get books.

Our small local library (Hampshire|) has a service where they choose books for you every month - you then go in, not allowed past a table at the entrance, and collect them. Books can be requested from other libraries in the county and they can be picked up too when they are available. Returns are put in a box and quarantined.

@Talisin

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.

One of my colleagues died a couple of weeks ago. Two others (that I know of) are currently infected. We are ‘covid secure’ and we don’t feel remotely safe. It isn’t just customers, it’s staff having to travel in on public transport. Staff working together in old, poorly ventilated buildings. Staff having to share computers and desks. Yes we sanitise everything we can, yes we all wear masks, yes we socially distance (not so easy in smaller branches). And my LA is pretty decent, they provide ppe, they stagger our start and end times, they have removed customer computer access during lockdown, they pay us when we have to self isolate, they back us against customers who complain about the restrictions. I know people who work in libraries where the staff have to provide their own ppe - masks, gloves, hand santiser, cleaning spray, everything - so I guess we’re lucky. And still staff are dying during lockdown. So people can get books.

But on the other side of things, no-one in my whole town has died since June. We are all volunteers anyway, so no-one is forced to be there. Those of us who are happy to go, go.

Ours is doing it. Parents who don't know what to get can give the librarians their kids' age, reading level and interests, and the librarians will make up a bag of books that they think they'll like. I think it's great!

Some libraries aren't "Council owned" even if they appear to be. They're actually private company owned and come under "Leisure" alongside gyms etc, and were told to close.

It's also not really the time to be touching and handing out books to customers even if click and collect, and all books have to be quarantined for days upon return.

There are Library apps such as Libby. We are in a Pandemic, it makes sense for customers to just use the app for reading books. It's only for a time. We should all be doing our best in terms of social distancing, surely. Even if click and collect is available in some places.

My library service used borrow box so I can download on to my kindle.

Mine does too.

It's also not really the time to be touching and handing out books to customers even if click and collect

Do you not touch things in the supermarket? Even if you get home deliveries, do you think the items are levitated into your basket by magic?

We sanitise our hands. The books are bagged. They wait on a shelf to be collected - usually a couple of days as the library is only open three days a week for a few hours at a time anyway, so by the time we've bagged up their books and let them know they are ready most people will then have to wait for the next open session to come down and get them. Books are returned to a drop off box in the porch, quarantined for four days before reshelving (but actually way longer, partly due to a backlog after a lot of books were returned after Xmas and partly due to it being time consuming and running on a skeletal staff).

Where is the risk?

@TrashPanda town beginning with S?

I’ve got some seriously over due books but won’t be going to a central library so they’ll just have to wait

My dm's library does a scheme where you say what genre you want and you pick up a bag of random 6 books. She's really enjoying it.

I suppose it depends if the library is run by the council or a community managed one run by volunteers. The latter may have people in an at risk category.

I didn't know about this! Will be checking my local library now. I use Press Reader, brilliant app - linked to your library membership. Tons of newspapers and magazines, all free.

@Hodge00079

I suppose it depends if the library is run by the council or a community managed one run by volunteers. The latter may have people in an at risk category.

It's the other way around here. Library in our town is a community one, volunteer staff, open. Next town over, council run, closed.

A lot of our volunteers are older and therefore not involved at the moment. Those of us who are willing and able are doing more, and the library hours are reduced.

We were given the choice to close. We didn't want to.

SirSamuelVimes a visit to a Supermarket might just be a bit more essential than a visit to your Library during a Pandemic. I'll leave you to work out why.

& Covid hasn't somehow miraculously bypassed all Library staff, which is partly why many held closure discussions this time around.

Library apps are free. 1 minute download on phone or laptop, loads of books at your fingertips. A brilliant resource, especially useful in these times. You loan and return, just as you would on physically visiting a library.

No wonder Covid is out of control here. Part of the problem is too many people won't exercise common sense/at least try their best re non-essential journeys and contact; then will argue that anyone who sees this sense of entitlement for what it is, is in the wrong.

Try another local authority and see if you can join. Sandwell seems to be closed, but Dudley is c&c. As pp said, Brum seems to be opening a delivery service soon.

Thanks for starting the thread op, I've just learnt that my library does c&c, so I've emailed them for a new card so I can book some books!

Ours do. When they were completely closed you could still order them and they would be delivered (free) by volunteers on bikes.

Ours do. If you have a tablet you can use Borrowbox to get library books, that is what I have been using since the first lockdown.

Ours do an order and collect service - launched last year in the first lockdown

Ours do, limited hours but they do include a time on Saturdays so not just for those working from home. Given how generally unsupportive they are of libraries, a welcome service.

Ours don’t but the staff were redeployed to other jobs during the last lockdown - presume it’s the same again this time.

I will give the e-book borrowing service another go when i've finished the thursday murder club. I tried it before with Bill Bryson's Notes From A Small Island but never got very far. I don't know if that's because I wasn't engaged by the book (probably) or because I don't have the visual reminder of it (also a probable contributing factor).

Some are

As well as doing free audio book hire