The current national lockdown guidance says that libraries can offer customers the chance to pick up items they have already reserved from the doors of the library. Staff can only hand out pre-ordered items.

If you are out for your daily exercise or essential shopping, you can drop off items or collect anything which is already waiting for you. Please check our current hours before you visit.

You can order books individually online or you can use our Staff Select service. Just fill in the form, as mentioned in the next article, and we’ll do the rest.

You can contact your local library by phone if you prefer or if you have a specific title to collect. Please do let friends and neighbours know, especially if they are not online and might really benefit from having something to read or listen to.

Whatever you like to read or listen to, for enjoyment, reference, or learning from home, our expert staff can hand-pick a selection just for you.

Fill in our free online Staff Select form with your reading preferences and we’ll contact you when your items are available to collect. You can then pick them up from the front doors of your local library. If you feel safer staying at home or are unable to collect, we may be able to deliver to your door – just indicate this on the form.

If you’re in need of ideas, here are some sample requests:

• Early reading books while school is closed
• Books on baking and breadmaking
• Roman Mythology books for school project
• UK or European crime novels

We're ready to help, however we can!

West Sussex Libraries will be moving our digital eBooks, eComics, eAudiobooks and eMagazines from RBdigital to the Libby app in late February. But don't worry, you will still be able to browse, borrow and enjoy all the same great titles that you loved in the RBdigital app, which will be available via Libby.

Please keep an eye out for messages via RB Digital and email, for more information about the move, including the exact launch date.    

New to eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines?

In just a few taps, you can start reading or listening instantly on your laptop, phone, tablet or eReader. Our eLibrary is available 24/7 without leaving home and is absolutely free! Choose from bestsellers, fiction, nonfiction, books for kids, and a great range of eMagazines. A comprehensive selection of eNewspapers is also available, via the Pressreader app.

Please contact us if you have any queries about this move or the eLibrary at library.digital.support@westsussex.gov.uk

Did you know that we have a wealth of information on how to Learn from Home? Whether it’s to find a new job, improve language skills or develop hobbies, Aspire Sussex, our education partners, can help you learn and achieve your goals. Aspire offers courses covering personal interest all the way up to qualifications at Level 2.

Subjects range from Maths and English to family learning, yoga and many others. The Aspire Cloud allows many courses to be taught remotely, directly to your PC, tablet or phone.  

To ensure courses reflect the needs of local communities, Aspire would like to know which subjects are right for you. Please help them by completing the Aspire learning survey. 

As part of the BBC’s Novels That Shaped Our World campaign, we’ll be virtually hosting three special events with bestselling authors Elly Griffiths, Isabel Ashdown and Jane Lythell. We’ll talk about the books that have inspired and influenced them and the role that reading has played in their lives. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask the authors questions and to hear lots of fantastic book recommendations!

Why not book a place for all three events – they’re completely free!

Elly Griffiths | Monday 8 February 7.00pm

Isabel Ashdown | Monday 22 February 7.00pm

Jane Lythell | Wednesday 24 February 2.00pm

Don’t forget that, if you need any support accessing Zoom, our Remote Digital Support team are available to help. Contact the team on 033 022 23455 or email library.digital.support@westsussex.gov.uk

Thinking of starting your own business?

From Spring 2021 our libraries will be part of the British Library Business and IP initiative. We will be working with Brighton and Hove libraries to offer lots of free new business resources accessible from library computers.

We are running a business webinar on Tuesday 16 February 2021 at 11.00am looking at COBRA (Complete Business Reference Advisor database) and also EMIS (the Emerging Market Information Service), both available in all West Sussex Libraries.

This is a digital event which you can attend anywhere from your laptop or mobile device.

Register for free on Zoom.

We'd just like to remind you that our Reading Group Hotline number was changed last year. Whilst most groups are using the new number already, you may need to make a note of the new number if you still have an 01243 number saved.  

Please be aware that this old number will no longer connect, and you can now reach us on 03302 225588 (Monday-Friday, 10.00am-4.00pm.) You can also order books via the online request form as always.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Do you need help with your job search? Did you know that the library can help? We certainly can!

On our dedicated web page you will find links to a wealth of free online employment and skills resources that can help you search for jobs, write a CV or application and gain new skills.

You don't even have to wait until the libraries are open again. You can access these resources from home!

West Sussex Unwrapped, brought to you by West Sussex Record Office and Screen Archive South East, is back for a second fun-filled series. Premiering on Tuesday 16 February, this all new eight-part monthly series builds on the archival treats of last year and offers a mix of films, photos, documents and fascinating facts on a range of topics.

The first episode features a Royal visit to Crawley in 1958 and future topics include women’s suffrage in West Sussex, a new school in Eastergate in 1970, life at Warnham Court, near Horsham, in the 1920s, scouts, picnickers and ramblers enjoying the South Downs, Hurstpierpoint’s famous St Lawrence Fair, Shoreham Harbour at work in the 1960s and a visit to the cinema in Haywards Heath in the 1920s.

You can find more information about West Sussex Unwrapped in the latest post in the West Sussex Record Office blog.