Shipston and Wellesbourne Libraries reopen to customers for ‘Click & Collect’

Warwickshire Libraries customers in Wellesbourne and Shipston can now visit their local library to collect pre-ordered books for the first time since lockdown from this past weekend, as Warwickshire County Council continues its phased reopening of library services in the community.​

Wellesbourne Library reopened with a ‘Click & Collect’ service from Saturday (September 5) with revised hours of operation, which are 10am to 12.30pm on Monday and Saturday and 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm on Wednesday and Friday (closed on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday).

The Shipston Library also reopens with a ‘Click & Collect’ service from Monday September 7 with revised hours of operation, which are 10am to 12.30pm on Monday and Saturday and 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm on Tuesday and Thursday (closed Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).

Warwickshire Libraries have continued to offer their services digitally since lockdown began - but are now delighted to be able to welcome visitors safely back to Wellesbourne and Shipston Libraries for ‘Click & Collect’ book collection as part of a phased reopening of library buildings.

To ensure customer safety, the number of people allowed inside the libraries at any one time will be limited, and face coverings will be compulsory for customers in line with the latest Government guidelines, except for those who are exempt.

There will be a new layout to enable social distancing and customers’ contact details will also be recorded for NHS Test and Trace.

Both Wellesbourne and Shipston Libraries will offer the new ‘Click and Collect’ service, which enables customers to pre-order titles, either via the libraries online catalogue at https://library.warwickshire.gov.uk, by phoning and speaking to a member of libraries staff, or by emailing the library enquiry team.

If customers aren’t sure which titles they’d like to borrow, they can also use the ‘Staff Select’ option by phoning or emailing Warwickshire Libraries to request up to three books on a particular subject or from a genre that they like (e.g. crime fiction), in a specific format if necessary (e.g. large print), which libraries staff will then select especially for them.

Libraries staff will contact customers to let them know when their books are ready and will give them an appointment time to attend either the Wellesbourne or Shipston Library to collect their books.

An animated video from Warwickshire County Council explains how the ‘Click and Collect’ process works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIgeE7bTzD8Books will be issued for the standard three weeks and can be renewed online if not reserved by another customer. There will be no reservation charges.

The phone line for ‘Click and Collect’ bookings is 0300 555 8171, where you can speak to a member of staff, or you can email [email protected].

The library catalogue is available at https://library.warwickshire.gov.uk, where residents can also become new members of the library service or reset their PIN.

Customers will also be able to return library books during the new Wellesbourne and Shipston Libraries opening hours - all of the ‘Click and Collect’ libraries have a ‘drop box’ outside or a letterbox where customers can deposit their books, or they can return them when they pick up their ‘Click and Collect’ books.

People will be encouraged to return their items on time for the benefit of other customers who may be waiting for them.

Customers who already had books on loan when lockdown was announced have automatically had their return dates extended to September 30.

There will also be pre-bookable access to computers at Wellesbourne and Shipston Libraries.

These can be booked in advance, with two computers available at each library for 45-minute sessions. In order to keep customers and staff safe, no staff support or facilities such as scanning will be available, but printing will be available.

These sessions need to be pre-booked using the online booking service at http://library.warwickshire.gov.uk or call 0300 555 8171 to speak to a member of staff about booking or email [email protected].

Councillor Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for customer and transformation, said: “We are very happy to be able to start re-opening our libraries to residents again in a way that will help keep our customers and staff safe.

“We know that people have missed visiting our libraries over the past few months, so this is another positive step forward as we work on the phased recovery and reopening of our facilities.”