Join the library
If you wish to visit your library, you must arrange a Book and Borrow appointment in advance. These can be booked over the phone or by email by contacting the library you wish to visit.
Libraries will be open for their regular hours but closing at 5pm.
All books and other items currently on loan will be automatically renewed until 11 January 2021 and will not incur any overdue charges.
This is all subject to change due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government guidance that we need to follow.
Our mobile library service and our home library service will continue to operate but with some restrictions still in place.
How Book and Borrow works
You will be asked to:
- ring or email the library you want to collect books from to make an appointment. You will be given a date and time for a collection slot. If you email please include a phone number so you can be called back to arrange a time.
- provide the name and library card number for each person who wants to borrow books, plus a contact phone number.
- give information on the type of books you would like – i.e. genre, examples of authors, format, or they can opt for a ‘lucky dip’. Maximum 10 items per person for each collection slot.
- bring your library cards or card numbers for all the people you are collecting for, when visiting for your pre-booked slot
- bring your own bags.
- wear a face covering, as you would in a shop, unless you are in one of the exempt groups.
Our request service is also available for customers who wish to reserve books from other libraries. You will still need an appointment to collect requested items. Books will be issued until 11 January.
We are currently unable to offer access to public computers in any of our libraries.
Libraries currently not open
Due to the restrictions, we are currently unable to open Melbourne Library. This will be monitored so it can be reopened as soon as this is possible.
Our digital service
Our free e-lending and online service will continue:
- Provision of digital resources for adults and children (ebooks, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and e-newspapers)
- Library Information Service (email and callback service to answer general enquiries, assistance with digital queries)
- Derbyshire Parish registers access from home
- Derbyshire Libraries Facebook and Derbyshire Libraries Twitter events and activities:
- current children's activities include: weekly storytimes, rhyme times, activity club, family bookshare, ebook reviews
- current adult activities include: ebook and e-audio mini reviews, wellbeing activities (cookery, craft, gardening videos), reading promotions (for example: the Women's Prize), local history in pictures, digital support and information weekly posts
Services that we will keep under regular review
- Public access computers
- Photocopying
- Reader groups
- Computer one to one sessions
- Use of meeting rooms, events and activities
- Toilets and baby change
- Newspapers
- Donations including food bank drop-off points
- Study space
- Volunteering opportunities
Further information
You can contact the Library Information Service tel: 01629 533444 and leave a message to receive a call-back from a member of the library service team. You can also email them at ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk
Examples of how the service can help include:
- help and advice on using a computer, tablet or smart phone
- locating contact details for organisations and support
- homework, hobbies and research
- support to access ebooks, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and e-newspapers