We’ve extended all library loans until the end of September.

While libraries still have to remain closed by law, we're working on our re-opening plans in line with government guidance.  As we don’t have any fixed timescales for that at the moment, we've extended all loans so that you don’t have to worry about returning your items.

During the lockdown, a team of library staff are running a call centre - strictly observing social distancing guidelines - on behalf of Adult Social Care.  We have made over 3,000 vital calls to people identified by the NHS as vulnerable and needing to shield.  We are making sure that everyone has the food, medication and support they need to continue to live safely at home.

A team of library staff is also delivering urgent food parcels to vulnerable people right across the county.  So far we've delivered 281 boxes of essential supplies and food!

Learning Services are continuing to support learners by telephone and helping them to complete their courses in maths, English and IT. Library Assistants and Librarians are answering customer telephone calls and emails, helping them access online resources.

Our eBook, eAudio and eMagazine service is thriving.  We’ve purchased 2,400 new titles since lockdown began, and had 27,761 eResource issues – that's 12,678 more issues than the same period last year!

If you are concerned about someone who is not receiving the help and support they need?  Contact our Coronavirus (COVID-19) help and support page.

East Sussex Community Information Service (ESCIS) is an online directory of local and community information covering the whole of East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. It includes organisations, clubs, societies and events. It was developed and is managed by the ESCC Library and Information Service, in association with the Brighton and Hove Library Service.

ESCIS currently contains a subdirectory of support and information being provided specifically to support residents during the COVID-19 crisis. There is also a section for virtual events.

Visit ESCIS and click on the relevant links on the home page.

We support 185 book groups across the county, so while our libraries are closed we've set up a new Reading Group Reads eBook collection on our Overdrive/Libby website.

The collection contains 25 titles carefully chosen by library staff, perfect for discussion and available to download at any time. It includes Rebecca’s recommendation - The Hoarder by Jess Kidd:

Maud Drennan - underpaid carer and unintentional psychic - is the latest in a long line of dogsbodies for the ancient, belligerent Cathal Flood. Yet despite her best efforts, Maud is drawn into the mysteries concealed in his filthy, once-grand home. She realises that something is changing: Cathal, and the junk-filled rooms, are opening up to her. With only her agoraphobic landlady and a troop of sarcastic ghostly saints to help, Maud must uncover what lies beneath Cathal's decades-old hostility, and the strange activities of the house itself. And if someone has hidden a secret there, how far will they go to ensure it remains buried?

There are also 135 works of classic literature available with no waits and no holds. 

A Question & Answer Session with our previous East Sussex Reading Group author Sheila Bugler is available to watch now.

Find out how you can borrow eBooks free of charge using your library card and read more about the Libby app.

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The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB) is the national record of men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. This authoritative collection of British biographies also contains 11,000+ portraits.

Get “Life of the day” by email or RSS feed, listen to the interesting Podcasts and read the latest Tweets from Oxford DNB.

For access all you need is your library card number and PIN.