 As national COVID-19 restrictions ease, Southampton City Libraries are delighted to be extending opening hours and library services from Monday 12 April 2021.
Services available at your local library
Central, Bitterne, Lordshill, Shirley, Portswood and Woolston libraries will offer library browsing, a Select and Collect service, returns and pre-booked public computer access and pre-booked study spaces.
Burgess Road Library will offer a Select and Collect service, returns and pre-booked public computer access.
Thornhill Community and YMCA Weston Community libraries will offer a Select and Collect service and returns.
Millbrook Community Library will offer library browsing, a Select and Collect service, returns and pre-booked public computer access. Please note that all visits to Millbrook Community Library must be pre-booked via telephone on 023 8054 0135.
Cobbett Hub & Library remains closed.
Customers are encouraged to check opening hours online ahead of visiting.
Returning items
All loans have been extended beyond Saturday 5 June 2021. Please note we are planning to reintroduce overdue fees from Monday 5 July 2021.
Return bins remain available at the entrances of libraries for those wishing to just return items quickly. All returned books are quarantined for 72 hours and borrower accounts may not show returned items for 5 working days.
Browsing and loaning items
We are delighted to welcome back customers back to browse for books. With fewer people allowed in the library at one time to enable social distancing, browsing will be limited to a 30-minute stay. We ask that any books you have handled whilst browsing are placed in the designated labelled areas and not returned to shelves. If possible, please bring your library card with you.
With Select and Collect, customers should reserve items online or via telephone on 023 8083 3007 (option 1, then 3), Monday to Friday - 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm. Items will then be prepared for collection.
If you are unable to get to the library due to ill-health, disability or caring responsibilities and require a service please contact us.
Computers and study space
Computer access and study space must be pre-booked. To book please contact us via telephone on 023 8083 3007 (option 1, then 3), Monday to Friday - 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm or visit us in branch.
Printing and photocopying facilities are available but please bring correct change as no change is available.
Local Studies and Maritime Library
Local Studies and Maritime Library will be closed during this period but enquiries can still be made either via email, local.studies@southampton.gov.uk or telephone on 023 8083 3007 (option 1, then 3), Monday to Friday - 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm.
Library from Home
With physical newspapers and magazines currently unavailable, many can be read online via the Digital Library. Our Digital Library also includes e-books and e-audiobooks as well as many other useful resources.
Many of the events and group activities that would normally take place physically in our libraries will continue to be offered online including rhyme and story times, author talks and craft activities. To ensure you don’t miss out, follow us on social media, @SouthamptonCityLibraries on Facebook and @SotonLibraries on Twitter.
Safety
Measures advised by Public Health England will be in place to ensure staff and public stay safe.
You can expect the following at our libraries:
- Customers are required to wear face coverings unless an exemption applies.
- You will be asked to scan a Test and Trace QR Code or leave your details when visiting a library.
- Staff will be here to welcome you but may be behind perspex screens and will be wearing face coverings in public areas.
- Hand sanitising stations and additional cleaning measures.
- Public toilets are unavailable.
- In order to assist the NHS’s Test and Trace service, the Council is maintaining a temporary record of our visitors. This information will be shared with the NHS if needed, in order to help contain clusters and outbreaks during the coronavirus pandemic. For more information check our data and privacy policies.
Thank you for your support in protecting the safety of library staff and visitors and we look forward to seeing you soon.
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