is your library doing free ordering?

[ivykaty44]

my library usually charges for ordering books, but is free atm due to covid19 and im enjoying shopping for books on amazon and then ordering the books through the library catalogue

so far I think ive had 4 brand new books this month and around £60 quids worth of books ordered - they come in at various times, due to being already pn loan etc

its great though

Yeah it’s brilliant isn’t it. I’ve also discovered their online portal during lockdown - RB Digital - and have saved a small fortune in downloading the latest magazines, it’s fab.

Nope, 85p per book here but still much cheaper than buying them so I don't mind.

MrsPussinBoots

Indeed it is much cheaper

We normally pay 50p to order but the library did a click and collect service before re opening and so made it free, they’ve said it’ll be free till March

DarlingCoffee

One of the library staff was telling me the magazines are up 200% on digital platforms

I like the selection of cookery magazines, but have used them for about a year or more now

Here it's free, I think it always was, but I hadn't used it pre covid. They also abolished fines last year, which I initially thought was great, then I realized if I was waiting for a book the other person could just keep it out as long as they liked.

No free ordering here. And many libraries still closed. So if a book you want is only available at closed libraries then you can't get it.

Ours has always been free and is open.

We still have closed libraries, they are the libraries manned by volunteers

Our library has been closed, due to reopen next month I believe.

We pay £1 to reserve a book so I usually search the online digital stock first to see if it's available there first to borrow for free.

Usually free ordering but a lot of branches still closed so can't order from them, no fees so people hang onto stuff and no new books being bought - something I requested pre-Lockdown that was on order in March still not in, :(

It was free here, but now you can only get books from the branch they are in, as opposed to reserving them to be sent from one branch to another. I think they're working on fixing that however.

@theotherfossilsister

It was free here, but now you can only get books from the branch they are in, as opposed to reserving them to be sent from one branch to another. I think they're working on fixing that however.

Yes that's the same for me.

Fortunately most libraries in the borough are not too far away. I actually went this morning to drop off some books. There was a queue to get in when I got there!

Yes, it’s free to reserve books at the minute at my library too because of Covid.

They’re sending books between branches again as well, but not all libraries in the county have reopened yet.

No fines for late returns right now either, which on the one hand is good - no need to worry about fines if I’m self isolating and can’t take books back on time - but on the other hand, someone could keep out a book I’m on a waiting list for indefinitely.

It's normally £1.20 to order books. its free now...many of the ones I have got look brand new. ...its actually been brilliant!

Yes, ours are free instead of 85p at the moment. I’ve had quite a few new releases recently which I am convinced are fresh off the shelf as they are immaculate. Feel so lucky that am able to borrow books this lockdown compared to the last one.

has anyone downloaded the ebooks for free?

We can order books for free but they can only provide what they can lay their hands on through a Click and Collect service. Haven’t heard anything about them ordering new ones. On a more cheerful note, our book club has been able to resume (virtually) as they are able to provide us with sets of books.

I use Libby for e books abd can get from Greater London libraries and better library London network.

Have also had tons of books on click and collect fir free. Have 6 out at present!

I find it a bit strange that libraries didn’t open fully when shops did. With a limited number of people allowed in at once of course. Ours is just open now for collecting reservations. A month or so ago you could book a half hour “browsing” slot, but that’s gone now.

I think ours has closed for the month but I've seen on Facebook that they are delivering books for free!
You can ask for a particular book or tell them what genre of books you like and they will make a little bundle for you and deliver them to your door which I think is lovely!

My library has Borrowbox for e books which has a lot of recent releases although availability is variable. I've found the app itself a bit hit and miss. I've had to delete and reinstall it a couple of times.