Seven LiveWire library sites are reopening from today – with safety and hygiene measures in place to protect our customers and staff.

Customers should please note that the opening hours of the above libraries will be not be the same as pre-closure so please check times on our website before visiting.

To ensure visitors feel safe whilst in our libraries our reopening plans have focused on the safety of customers and staff, to ensure our customers can confidently borrow books in a friendly, safe and hygienic manner.

To do this effectively we have introduced some changes to the customer journey;

• We will be limiting the number of customers in our library buildings at any one time.
• Staff will be on hand to welcome customers, control queues and help you with any questions. Please respect our staff, they are working hard to ensure you remain safe during your visit.
• Hand sanitisers are located at each entrance and exit point; all customers will be required to sanitise their hands as they enter the library in line with guidance published by Public Health England.
• You will need your library card during your visit. If you have lost your card please see a member of staff – please note there may be a wait before a staff member is able to assist you.
• Items will be issued/returned using our self-service machines which are cleaned throughout the day. In some locations, staff will assist you with issuing and returning.
• Families are always welcome in libraries but to ensure spaces can be managed safely all children under 15 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all time.
• A core offer of lending books – including talking books – is available, but it will be a little while before other library services will be able to recommence. This includes individual title reservations, reference book and local history materials, newspapers, seating, refreshments, toilets and meeting rooms.
• Library staff will contact members with reservations awaiting collection before closure to arrange collection at one of the reopened libraries.
• Our public PCs will not be available until Monday 20th July and pre-booking of the PC will then be required. More details on how to make a booking will be provided in advance of this date.
• Existing loans have been extended to 30th September.
• You can still call us by telephone. However please note that it will not be possible to contact an individual library. Our phone lines have been diverted to LiveWire’s contact centre to allow staff to support visitors in our libraries.

Although we have worked hard to make our libraries as safe as possible we understand some members may choose to not to visit at the moment. With that in mind, we have a number of additional services that might be of use:

Home Library Service: The Home Library Service operates for people who are normally housebound or find it hard to get to their nearest library for reasons such as mobility problems, illness or carer responsibilities.

At the present time we are currently able to expand this service on a temporary basis to support more people with this service, including people over 70, those shielding or self-isolating and others unable to make it in person to a library.

For more information contact wmolyneux@livewirewarrington.org

Order and Collect: Our new Order and Collect service allows members to order and receive books without coming into the library.  The process is simple; you let us know what type of books you enjoy; our library staff choose up to 5 books for you and issue them to your library card. You collect your books on an agreed date and time from Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub – contact free and free of charge. The Order and Collect scheme are available for both adult and children’s fiction.

To register for the service call 01925 572504 or email us at collections@livewirewarrington.org including your full name and library card number with any enquiry.

On-line facilities and eBooks:

LiveWire offers a free e-book, e-comic and audio book offer to members that can be accessed via the online link https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/library/books-ebooks/ebooks

LiveWire Libraries subscribe to a range of premium resources for you to use for free.  To access these resources visit https://livewirewarrington.co.uk/library/information