Whether it is being challenged to build the tallest Lego tower you can in 60 seconds or being able to borrow eBooks while stuck at home, people are appreciating using Warwickshire County Council’...
Whether it is being challenged to build the tallest Lego tower you can in 60 seconds or being able to borrow eBooks while stuck at home, people are appreciating using Warwickshire County Council’s virtual library service during lockdown.
Warwickshire’s library buildings remain closed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, but thanks to some easy-to-use online services, creativity from libraries staff and the power of social media, residents are still enjoying the activities that they would normally take part in face-to-face.
One service that is proving popular is BorrowBox, which offers eBooks and eAudiobooks and enables residents to access library items for free whenever and wherever they are.
In March, 828 new users signed up to the service in Warwickshire, and in the first two weeks of April a further 534 people started using the digital borrowing service – compared to a monthly average of 392 new users a month in the previous 12 months.
The County Council’s library service has increased its stock of eBooks since the start of the pandemic and all you need to access BorrowBox are your library card number and email address.
Residents have been taking to social media to show their appreciation for BorrowBox, with Marie Darwen calling it “such a fabulous free service”.
Elizabeth Dixon of Accessible Stratford told libraries staff, “I’m enjoying a mix of actual books which I borrowed before my 12-week lockdown… but appreciating BorrowBox too with its many choices.”
Virtual library user Alison went on to social media to say “I joined the library online and have really been appreciating being able to borrow eBooks and audio books while I’m stuck at home. Thanks for this service.”
Warwickshire Libraries staff have made a video that explains, step-by-step, how customers can download and use the BorrowBox app so they can read and listen to books for free on devices including iPads and Kindles. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ch5GK61p-I
Families have also been appreciating the efforts of library staff to keep the challenges that would usually be set at libraries’ weekly Lego Clubs going online.
The Robbins family said their son Jacob “can’t wait for the next challenge. He misses Lego Club!” and sent libraries staff some fabulous photos of their Lego builds, saying “thank you for what you are doing at this difficult time”.
Whether it is building an amazing maze, a Lego dinosaur or a scene from Star Wars, keep checking the Warwickshire Libraries social media accounts on Twitter (@warkslibraries) or Facebook (either www.facebook.com/WarwickshireLibraries or your local library’s Facebook account) for the latest weekly – or sometimes twice weekly – virtual Lego Club challenges!
A recent challenge was to build the tallest Lego tower you can in 60 seconds, and 9-year-old Darcey responded with an amazing tower of 47 bricks – which library staff worked out was one brick every 1.28 seconds!
Rob Powell, Strategic Director for Resources at Warwickshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that our residents are appreciating using our virtual library service during lockdown.
“Our staff are thinking of new and creative ways to continue delivering services to people and bring some joy into their lives, or provide them with a bit of escapism, while we are unable to open our library buildings.
“We’ve seen a big upturn in people signing up to use eBooks and I’d like to thank libraries staff for all their hard work behind the scenes and our residents for their brilliant response to us having to adapt our services.”
If you’re not already a Warwickshire Libraries member you can join online, visit https://library.warwickshire.gov.uk/ and click ‘Join Online’. Library staff will send you your membership number and then you can get started straight away!
Follow Warwickshire Libraries on social media on Twitter (@warkslibraries), on Facebook (warwickshirelibraries) and on Instagram (Warwickshire_libraries) to be part of the conversation.
For help with all library services, you can contact the virtual library enquiry service by emailing libraryenquiryteam@warwickshire.gov.uk.
You can also read the Library Blog at librariesblog.warwickshire.gov.uk and sign up to the receive weekly updates on Warwickshire Libraries including all the latest news on our digital library services at https://mailchi.mp/warwickshire/libraries.