Libraries
Announcement
Following the Government’s announcement on 12 July 2021 regarding the lifting of the majority of restrictions from the 19 July 2021, Tameside Library Service will be making important, positive, changes supportive to those using/wishing to use the service.
Over the coming weeks the following changes will be made
- More public PCs will be brought back into use, but where possible we will accommodate some socially distanced work stations
- The need to pre-book private study space will be removed
- Soft furniture to be reinstated into each venue
- Events and activities will start to be re-introduced to venues, likewise the use of meeting rooms
- One way systems in libraries will be removed
- Capacity limits on numbers of people allowed in building at once will be removed
- The wider eligibility criteria for Home Library Service introduced during Covid restrictions will be retained
- Physical copies newspapers and magazines will be re-instated
- Open+ operating hours at libraries will be re-instated but customers will be asked to sanitise PCs before/after use
Coronavirus has not gone away and we need to be mindful of both customer and staff safety. For this reason some measures will remain in place such as hand sanitiser at entrances, Perspex screens round the library counters. Staff will continue to wear facemasks when not behind a Perspex screen and we encourage our customers to wear face coverings whilst in the library. Our staff will continue to social distance to 1 metre and will continue to undertake the cleaning of PCs between users. Whilst there is no requirement to collect test and trace information QR codes will be available for customers to scan, or paper slips are available for people to leave their details if they wish.
For anyone unable to visit a library, or who chooses not to do so, the full range of digital services remains in place including e-books, e-audio books, digital magazines and newspapers, and other online resources. Customers can manage their library account online, including renewing any items, managing reservations, and changing personal details. There is also a telephone enquiry service and renewals can be made over the phone.