Be part of a new story in the life of Halton’s libraries. You can now visit and enjoy our safe, clean facilities.
Halton’s library staff were busy during lockdown, delivering books to the vulnerable and dealing with huge increases demand for ebooks, audio books and online papers and magazines through the Newsreader app.
But now a new chapter has started for as all four Halton Borough Council Libraries are now re-opened and cannot wait to see library users return.
Staff produced this video, posted on YouTube, to show people how they will have changed post-Covid. https://www.youtube.com/user/HaltonLibraries
During lockdown, Halton Borough Council continued offering services online and through the home library service, delivering books to vulnerable users and those shielding.
Staff delivered more than 700 books to 120 people during the lockdown period.
They also saw a huge increase in demand in our online resources – 10,436 ebooks and audiobooks were downloaded between March and June, a 69 per cent increase on 2019.
More than 200,000 newspaper and magazine articles were also read by Halton library users – via the free app, PressReader.
A new choose and collect service was launched at Halton Lea library in May, which is now available at every library. This enables people to pick up a selection of six books expertly chosen by library staff, contact free.
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Libraries, Cllr Phil Harris, said: “Following a phased return, all libraries are now re-open so that Halton residents can browse our fantastic range of books and access free computer facilities.
“Staff have introduced social distancing measures in place and ask that those who can, wear a mask. We are also taking part in the track and trace programme. When books are returned, they are quarantined for 72 hours.”
“Anyone with books still at home that were borrowed before the libraries closed need not worry – Halton Libraries do not charge fines on any book loans so you can return these to any library in Halton when you are able to do so. “
Opening hours are currently slightly amended to allow extra time for cleaning – visit our website to check the current opening hours of your local library. https://library.haltonbc.info/
