Home Library Service

HOME LIBRARY SERVICE IN BEDFORDSHIRE LIBRARIES

The Home Library Service is available to anyone who wants to read or listen to books and has no-one able to choose and collect items for them from a library, and who satisfies at least one of the service eligibility criteria. The service is available to people of all ages. It is also available to carers who may be housebound due to the nature of their caring duties.

It is available to people who: • have a physical disability that prevents them travelling to a library building • have a learning or developmental difficulty that makes it difficult for them to leave home • have a mental health difficulty that makes it difficult for them to leave home • are registered blind or are partially sighted • are frail or in poor health • cannot walk or travel to access a library building • are unable to go out without help • have a disability or fluctuating condition and it is difficult to carry library books between the library and their home are recovering from an operation and in need of short term help

How does the service work?

Family and Friends Service

If you have a member of your family or a friend that can visit the library and choose books for you and you satisfy at least one of the service eligibility criteria, library staff can arrange for them to have a 'family and friends' Home Library Service library card that they can use on your behalf. Your family member or friend will be able to select books for you direct from the library shelves.

You will be entitled to ten books (including large print), 10 spoken word items and 2 DVDs as part of this service. There are no overdue charges, but we will expect your family member or friend to visit the library at least every three weeks to return your loans and collect new items for you.

There are no fines or charges for the Home Library Service and you can request items as well.

Volunteer Delivery Service

If you do not have anyone that is able to visit the library and choose books for you and you satisfy at least one of the service eligibility criteria, please

contact your local Central Bedfordshire library and ask to speak to a member of staff about the volunteer delivery Home Library Service. Library staff will try to match you with a volunteer who will bring the books to your home and will talk to you about the books you like to read (so that suitable books can be brought to you).

You will be entitled to ten books (including large print), 10 spoken word items and 2 DVDs as part of this service. There are no overdue charges

for this service. Before the volunteer visits you a member of library staff will be in contact to tell you who to expect and arrange a mutually agreeable appointment. The volunteer will be carrying identity and will expect you to check it before you let them into your home.

The volunteer will generally visit every three weeks to bring you new items and return those that are no longer required.

If a volunteer is not immediately available they may be a short wait until an appropriate person can be found.

There are no fines or charges for the Home Library Service and you can request items as well.

How do I apply?

Applications for the Home Library Service can be made by friends or relatives or by the person themselves. You can apply by contacting your local library.

Download the Home Library Service application form by visiting http://virtual-library.culturalservices. net/cgi-bin/vlib.sh and popping Home Library Service application form in the search bar. All information is treated confidentially.

Volunteers

Volunteers help run the Home Library Service. If you would like to volunteer please visit the volunteering opportunities page for more information. All Home Library Service volunteers will require checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service before they are matched with a Home Library Service user.