This summer, residents will be able to choose their own books once again as libraries start to reopen in Dorset, just in time for some holiday reading!
Since 8 July residents have been able to use an order and collect service at 22 of Dorset Council’s 23 libraries, but from Monday 27 July, nine Dorset Council libraries will reopen.
This provides local people with the chance to browse the library shelves and use the public computers. The computers will be available for a 45-minute session but need to be pre-booked by calling your library.
Dorchester, Ferndown and Weymouth libraries will be open from 9.30am to 1pm, Monday to Saturday.
Blandford, Gillingham, Sherborne, Wareham and Wimborne libraries will be open from 9.30am to 1pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding Wednesday.
Bridport library will be open from 9.30am to 1pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding Thursday.
Opening times are being limited to ensure that staff can work safely in the afternoons to pick and pack bags for the order and collect service – an alternative service for those who are uncomfortable or unable to spend time in the library. The online library services will continue to offer an exciting programme of activities.
Cllr Tony Alford, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services, said: “We’re pleased to now be able to reopen a number of our libraries, with safety measures in place to help protect our staff and residents.
“These nine libraries are in our more densely populated towns and will offer a good geographical spread across our council area. Along with our order and collect service, which will continue to run, we are confident that all our residents can continue to access this valuable community facility.
“Library services will look and feel quite different with signage to help users follow social distancing guidelines and some services will still be unavailable. Please help us keep our staff and residents safe by respecting the measures we have put in place.
“We will continue to work towards reopening more of our buildings and will be assessing what services can be reintroduced as government guidance evolves.”
Much like supermarkets and other shops, there will be a limit on the number of visitors allowed in the building at the same time, and a browsing time of 15 minutes is being suggested to ensure as many people as possible can use these libraries. People will also be asked to sanitise their hands as they enter the library.
As well as browsing and borrowing library items, users will also be able to drop return items to these libraries, with returned items being quarantined for 72 hours before being put back on the shelf.
For the safety of all our users, there will be no access to toilet facilities and seating areas have been removed. Printing and photocopying, study spaces, print copy of newspapers and magazines, information or reference enquiry service and the reservation service are all currently unavailable.
To keep up to date with changes to the library services follow @DorsetLibraries on Twitter or Facebook. More information about the library service is available online.
When will West Moors Library reopen?
Is this another example of “Out of sight, out of mind?” for our town?
Hi Phil, we’re working towards getting all our libraries reopen, including West Moors Library. Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific date for this.
We are doing this in a staged approach to ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place and working, to protect our staff and residents.
So are we to take it that West Moors is less safe than Blandford? Or are we burbling about baby steps and bubbles? Please explain why all libraries cant open? Staff are being paid as normal
When will it be possible to reserve books via the website?
What about Shaftesbury!
Are we not in the equation?
When will it be possible to go upstairs in the Ferndown Library and sit at a table to do some study work for a period of say 1/2 Hr ?
When will i be able to borrow for the 7 day period as before one of the 6 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues that are in your reference section upstairs ??
God almighty, more pointless nanny state rubbish. Even Stalin wasnt repressive enough to dictate what people should read. There is no reason at all why the reserving books system cannot be up and running. And why cant all the libraries open – are some areas considered less safe than others? Sick to death of being told that all this authoritarian stuff is for my own good. If libraries want to survive, they should get back to doing what they are meant to do – loan out books. It is not their business to protect my health anymore than Tesco or South West Trains or The Dog and Duck. Get over yourselves guys and restore our library service.
Oh, and now I see that remarks have to be moderated. Reading is about freedome, not censorship.
Without the facility for ordering books might as well be shut.
I have asked this before but so far have had no answer. When will Book Clubs be able to resume?
When will Littlemoor library be open please?