Library User Guide

Stirling Council Library & Archives Service

Your Library DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICES 0845 277 7700 stirling.gov.uk/libraries

Your Library Welcome to Stirling Council Libraries!

There is so much inside your local library. You will find books of all kinds and lots of them, but there is so much more.

You will find thousands of books, including the latest titles as well as old favourites. All of them are free to borrow and you will be surprised what you find! There are also compact disc collections, books on tape, DVDs, foreign language material and much more.

Across our sixteen libraries we have free Internet provision, with over a hundred public access computers, while those who have a wireless-enabled laptop of their own can take advantage of our wi-fi facilities.

Both Cambusbarron and Raploch Xpress Libraries have self-issue facilities.

The latter is unstaffed for a greater part of the day.

We have many events throughout the year for young and old alike, with the standout being our Off the Page Book Festival each September, which draws people from all over the country, as well as from the local area.

You will find our libraries pleasant, welcoming places. Our staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and they are happy to help with any enquiry that you may have.

All you have to do is ask…

So how do I join?

You need to fill out a membership form and produce two current forms of identification to verify your name, address and signature. Under 16s will need a parent/guardian to sign their form.

You will then be given a membership card, which can be used in any of our community libraries. A separate membership is, however, required to use the mobile library service.

If you lose your card, please let us know as soon as possible, as you are responsible for items borrowed on your card. A nominal charge is made for a replacement.

What can I borrow?

We have thousands of books, DVDs, audio books and compact disc.

Audio collections are held at Central and Dunblane Libraries, but all library members can request items from these collections, which cover all kinds of music from Caruso, through Crosby and Clapton to Cascada.

You can borrow a maximum of twenty items per adult – including up to six compact discs and four DVDs. Children can borrow up to fifteen items. The maximum is five items from the Raploch Xpress library.

How long can I keep them?

You can keep books for three weeks, audio items for one week and DVDs for either two days or one week, depending on the item category.

If you need to keep them longer, or cannot get to the library, you can telephone any local library to renew.

You can also renew online at lib.stirling.gov.uk.

You will need a PIN number from your local library to access this service and will be unable to renew items that have been requested by another user.

Please note that overdue items cannot be renewed online.

What happens if I don’t renew?

Items returned late will incur a fine. Book fines are charged on a daily basis, while compact discs and DVDs are charged according to the hire period. Our charges are displayed in all libraries.

You will receive reminders for overdue items.

What if what you want isn’t immediately available?

You can use the request service, while books, journal articles and music scores can be borrowed through our Inter-Library Loan Service.

The request service is free, with charges only for Inter-Library loan items.

Please note that a request service is not available at the Raploch Xpress Library.

What else is on offer?

Most of our libraries offer both black and white as well as colour photocopying and fax facilities are also available. Charges are on display.

A binding service is available in Central Library, Stirling, while laminators are available at most other libraries.

Cards, wrapping and writing paper, stamps and other miscellany are available to buy in all libraries.

A wide range of exhibitions and events takes place throughout the year. These are advertised in advance in the local press and on our website at www.stirling.gov.uk/libraries We also make good use of the Community TV screens at Central, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Libraries and events appear in our fortnightly column in the Stirling Shopper newspaper.

Learning and IT Learning Zones are available at Bridge of Allan and Bannockburn Libraries. The latter is an accredited Learn Direct centre and both have a suite of PCs with networked access to the Internet. This facility is supported by Forth Valley College and allows access to specific learning packages and group learning sessions.

Taught classes for beginners in computing are available in a number of libraries with subjects ranging from basic computing to ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence). Tuition is provided by partners including Forth Valley College and Stirling Council’s Adult Learning Team.

Bannockburn Library offers flexible learning supported by Forth Valley College tutors.

Most of our libraries have wheelchair accessible desks available.

Learn @ the Library This exciting partnership between Stirling Council Libraries and Forth Valley College enables library members to sign up for a wide range of learning courses completely free of charge.

Once you have registered, you will be able to access units via Forth Valley College’s state-of-theart Virtual Learning Environment. You can study at a time and pace to suit your lifestyle and, because the courses are available via the Internet, can do so from your home too.

The courses cover a wide range of topics, including childcare, cookery, arts, mathematics, customer care, garden design, theatre arts and small business skills. A range of computerrelated courses are also available. All of our libraries are involved in this exciting initiative and the courses are fun.

Ask at your local library for further information.

Computers and the Internet Networked computers are available in all of our libraries, with free, fast access to the Internet and to word processing.

Demand is high, so to guarantee use at a specific time, we recommend booking in advance (a nominal charge is made).

Wi-fi facilities All of our libraries except Raploch Xpress now offer wi-fi facilities. All you need is a wirelessenabled laptop and library membership. We will then provide you with a PIN and access is quick and easy.

Ask at your local library for further information

Information Basic reference and local history collections are available in all of our libraries except Raploch Xpress.

The largest resource is at Central Library, Stirling, which houses a wide range of reference works, including business directories, bus and rail timetables, telephone directories, electoral and valuation rolls, newspapers and magazines.

As you might expect, we have access to online databases too. KnowUK offers access to over a hundred current reference books, while NewsUK makes a range of national and local newspapers available.

We also offer a learning resource service with over 300,000 images through SCRAN, while library members may also access Britannica online.

These databases are available in all of our libraries and can be accessed at home through our website with your library membership card. A Clubs and Organisations Database, which lists details of over a thousand local groups, is available in all libraries. This is maintained and updated by us and data forms to add your group or organisation can be obtained from any of our libraries, or by telephoning (01786) 432397

Family and Local History Family history is an ever-growing area of interest and we have excellent resources.

Census returns 1841-1901 and the Old Parish Records for Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire and some of Perthshire are available in Central Library.

The International Genealogical Index (IGI), which covers millions of births, baptisms and marriages over 300 years to the 1870’s is available in Central, Drymen and Bridge of Allan Libraries. Our Internet provision also opens up access to a wide range of online resources. Please ask staff for further information on these.

Most of our libraries have local history collections, with the main resource again being held in Central Library. A wide range of books, newspapers on microfilm and journals are available and research can be undertaken on your behalf should you wish (a fee will be charged dependent on the time involved).

Our Local History Officer is based at Central Library. As well as helping with enquiries, the Officer organises events, talks and displays throughout the area, as well as running classes in family history research techniques.

The Library Service also has a local history publication programme and has a number of titles available.

Enquiries are welcome – please ring (01786) 432106 for further information.

Multi-Cultural Library Central Library houses a collection of material in foreign languages for adults, including Arabic, Bengali, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Chinese, Mandarin, Polish, Czech, Romanian and Russian.

Children’s material is also available for many of these languages.

A range of daily newspapers and magazines is included in the collection, as well as audio-visual material and children’s bi-lingual material.

These items may be borrowed through your local library.

In addition, Global Office software is available in all libraries for using different alphabets and scripts.

Book Prescription Scheme The aim of the project is to encourage GPs to prescribe books to patients which they feel may help them. This is done in conjunction with, or where possible, instead of a medical prescription.

Check out the website www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk for further information.

Access Services This team within Library Headquarters delivers a library service to individuals in their own homes and to others in their own rooms in nursing and residential homes, as well as sheltered accommodation. The service is available to anyone who is permanently or temporarily incapacitated and unable to get to his or her local library. Staff also deliver a library service to Cornton Vale Prison.

A quarterly magazine is produced to keep users up-to-date with new titles available and with information/advice on disability issues, while events are held throughout the year to encourage the participation of older people with disabilities.

Any enquiry should be referred to Access Services on (01786) 432391

Young People’s Services You’re never too young to join your local library. Children of all ages are welcome, with so much on offer for them. There are thousands of books, music CDs and DVDs to hire, as well as computers to send e mails, play games or help with homework.

Staff organise a range of promotional activities aimed at encouraging young people to become enthusiastic readers. Rhyme times, storytimes and author talks, as well as participation in national initiatives such as Bookstart, Chatterbooks and the Summer Reading Challenge, are all available.

Young People’s Services, based at Library HQ, co-ordinates and advises on the provision of book collections to pre-5 groups, after school clubs and child/family centres.

The service also co-ordinates Librarytxt, an information service for 12-25 year olds.

For more information, please contact Young People’s Services on (01786) 432390

Mobile Library Service Our mobile library service is open to anyone who lives, works or is being educated in the Stirling Council area. You may also use it if you use another community library, but a separate membership card is required.

The mobile libraries visit both rural and urban communities at some distance from a library building. If you cannot always be at home when the Mobile Library calls, let staff know in advance, or ask a neighbour to return your books and the staff will pick new ones for you.

Books can be returned to any library in the Stirling Council area and you can also renew online at lib.stirling.gov.uk Mobile Library timetables can be obtained from Library Headquarters – call (01786) 432383.

They may also be displayed on a local notice board or in a shop near you.

We are your Library Service and we are here to help.

Check out our website. – www.stirling.gov.uk/libraries Check out our online catalogue – lib.stirling.gov.uk

If you need this information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language please contact 0845 277 7000 and quote reference number 0002.

0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000 0845 277 7000

Stirling Council Library & Archives Service Viewforth Stirling FK8 2ET email: info@stirling.gov.uk text: 0771 799 0001 phone: 0845 277 7000 web: stirling.gov.uk