ELL libraries reopen with Covid safety rules

Illustration: Esmae Palmer

Libraries are welcoming residents back this week with Covid safety rules in place and a new Select and Collect service. 

They are having a phased reopening because Broad Green Library in Croydon remains a lateral flow testing centre with some library staff still working for the Covid-19 services. 

The new Select and Collect system lets you pick and reserve books for collection, via phone email or online. 

Once items are ready, customers will be contacted to arrange an appropriate pick-up time; the books will be placed in a bag that has been quarantined for 72 hours, following government guidelines. 

You can find contact information for the libraries offering Select and Collect here

Croydon: Ashburton Library, Bradmore Green Library, Central Library, Coulsdon Library, New Addington Library, Norbury Library, Purley Library, Selsdon Library, South Norwood Library, Thornton Heath Library. 

Hackney: Dalston CLR James, Stamford Hill, Clapton, Stoke Newington, and Hackney Central.

Lewisham: Deptford Lounge and Downham Libraries, Crofton Park Community Library, Grove Park Community Library, Sydenham Community Library, Archibald Corbett Community Library Arts and Heritage Centre. 

Tower Hamlets: Cubitt Town Library, Bethnal Green Library, Idea Store Watney Market, Idea Store Chrisp, Idea Store Bow, Idea Store Whitechapel and Idea Store Canary Wharf. 

During your Select and Collect pick up slot, if you need to return items, you will be requested to leave them at a returns point and not hand them to any staff. The returned items will then be quarantined before going back up for selection from the public again. 

If it’s browsing the library in person that you’ve really missed, Central Library, Ashburton Library, New Addington Library, Norbury Library, Selsdon Library and Thorton Heath Library will be opening from April 26 for browsing and pre-booked computer use.

The sessions will last for 45 minutes and the area will be thoroughly sanitised after all appointments. 

To find out more about the online library system, click here 

And to join your local library ahead of reopening, click here 

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