From Monday 29 March, more St Helen Borough libraries will reopen for essential computer access and a click and collect book service.
Parr, Eccleston, and Newton-le-Willows libraries will join St Helens and Chester Lane libraries in offering IT support, available to book by appointment for up to 45 minutes at a time during opening hours to assist with essential tasks such as study, access to benefits, searches for work and training opportunities.
For library members wanting to borrow books, a click and collect service is also available from these sites. View the catalogue here: https://sthlibrarieswp.koha-ptfs.co.uk/
According to the roadmap to recovery, venues like libraries will be allowed to reopen again for browsing and borrowing from Monday 12 April, if the coronavirus vaccine deployment programme continues successfully, and infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
Selected libraries in St Helens Borough are set to reopen to the public from Monday 12 April as part of a phased return, with measures in place to keep visitors and staff safe.
Chester Lane, St Helens, Eccleston, Newton-le-Willows and Parr libraries, which have the space to reconfigure layouts in the interest of social distancing, have been identified to reopen first.
Decisions on opening further libraries will be taken as and when it is safe to do so.
St Helens Archive will also reopen from Monday 12 April and bookings for the search room can be accommodated Monday to Wednesday between the hours of 10:00am-2:00pm.
Enquires for the Archive Service can be emailed to archives@sthelens.gov.uk or by phone 01744 671748. Meanwhile, digital content including e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and e-comics are available to access 24/7 using a library card by visiting https://sthlibrarieswp.koha-ptfs.co.uk/
Dave Boocock, Head of Culture and Wellbeing, said: “We know how much our libraries mean to the people that visit them and it’s been a real shame that they’ve been made to close for most of the past year.
“I’d like to thank Library Service users for their cooperation during these turbulent times and would encourage them to continue to show the fantastic support they have shown by taking up these alternative offers until it is safe for us to welcome them back.
“I remember the positive reaction we had the first-time libraries were allowed to reopen after first lockdown and I hope we don’t have to go through something like this again.” All items currently on loan are renewed until 1 July. Any library items currently out on loan can be returned to Chester Lane, Eccleston, Newton-le-Willows, Parr, St Helens, Haydock, Rainhill and Thatto Heath libraries. Fines for overdue items have been removed.
Computer booking details:
- Chester Lane Library – call 01744 677081 or email chesterlanelibrary@sthelens.gov.uk
- St Helens Library – call 01744 676954 or email sthelenslibrary@sthelens.gov.uk
- Eccleston Library – call 01744 677575 or email ecclestonlibrary@sthelens.gov.uk
- Newton Le Willows Library – call 01744 677885 or email newtonlewillowslibrary@sthelens.gov.uk
- Parr Library – call 01744 677580 or email parrlibrary@sthelens.gov.uk
