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Tuesday 14 July 2020

I'm not sure what the point is though



Derbyshire County Council is reopening some libraries. 

We plan to only open a limited number of libraries at first and during this initial phase a number of measures have been put in place to ensure everyone’s safety and help to stop the spread of coronavirus.

You will need an appointment to be able to visit to pick up books or use a computer, and this can be arranged direct with your local library.

During this time, the following will not be available:

  • book returns - we're not accepting any book returns unless you’ve got an appointment - you will not incur overdue charges
  • browsing the shelves
  • reader groups
  • use of meeting rooms / events, and activities
  • specific item requests
  • public toilets and baby changing facilities
  • newspapers
  • donations including food bank drop-off points

5 comments:

Sam Vega said...

I guess they will still welcome mildly mentally ill people wandering about and doing nothing in particular. There always seem to be one or two in the larger libraries, and providing they wear masks and provide an address and take a swab test and queue for ages and have a special app on their phone, they should be OK.

wiggiatlarge said...

That is a classic 'we are doing something for the local population ' statement, says a lot produces nothing, probably took a cross party committee a day or so to put together.

Graeme said...

No browsing and no book returns. No reader groups and presumably no sitting at a table reading or pretending to read something. They might run out of books soon! But seriously, why else go to a library?

The Jannie said...

Typical local authority think. Do bugger all but make sure that those who don't read joined-up writing are fooled by it.

A K Haart said...

Sam - it is easy to imagine a situation evolving where hardly anyone goes to libraries because they don't want to be grouped with the mildly mentally ill people libraries attract.

Wiggia - I bet it took more than a day or so to put together. Lots of discussions and drafts and consultations and checking what everyone else is doing and what government says and how it affects diversity goals and so on and so on.

Graeme - I can't see anyone bothering and maybe that's the idea. "We are back at work and it isn't our fault if nobody uses the library."

Jannie - it is typical - I can easily imagine the meetings. And the people. And the coffee and biscuits.