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The Home Library Service is a special service
to bring Royal Borough libraries to people in their homes.
For people with mobility issues that prevent them getting to their local library,
or young carers without time to visit a library,
this free of charge service could be just what's needed.
Anyone who lives in the Royal Borough is eligible.
If you are housebound, have mobility problems,
or are a young carer, we can find you a volunteer
to bring library materials straight to your home.
Volunteers pick out books and other materials from a Borough library,
according to the tastes of their customers.
Some volunteers only have one customer, others have lots.
It's up to the individual how much time they want to give.
On average, one customer means about two hours volunteering every three weeks.
All types of library materials are available for volunteers to choose from.
Fiction and non-fiction books in regular and large print.
Audio books on CD, cassette, and playaways.
Even eBooks delivered on special electronic readers.
The service is tailored to suit the customer's needs and
help them discover new interests.
If we don't stock a particular book,
we can normally get it from somewhere else.
And all this comes absolutely free!
Frances >> I started volunteering when I saw an advertisement
in the local paper asking for library volunteers.
I love reading books, I couldn't imagine not having access to books and
I thought that that was something I would enjoy doing and
could be of benefit to people.
It normally takes me parts of about three days a week.
It's quite variable; the one fixed commitment is picking the books from the mobile library, and
that's on a three week rota. But apart from that,
in terms of visiting people, I can fit that in with my commitments and
their commitments though most people do like to know when you're coming.
(Er) They look forward to your visits and
clearly you need to sort of let them know when you expect to visit them again.
After a period you do build quite a relationship with the people you visit.
Over a period of years you really get to know them,
they get to know a bit about you,
you can talk to them about their family and
what they've done and they're always interested in you and
you get to know what they like, what they enjoy.
They're always very, very pleased to see you.
Volunteers operate independently, but are supported by library staff.
We can help choose books or suggest new authors.
Volunteers do need their own transport,
but the Borough is happy to pay a mileage allowance.
Without The Home Library Service,
many people have no access to library materials.
For a book lover, The Home Library Service can provide
a lifeline to the outside world,
a welcome break from caring responsibilities,
or an opportunity to explore new subjects.
Volunteers get to know their customers well,
and visits often become more of a social occasion
Maggie >> The home library volunteers are a wonderful service.
I always used to visit the library myself to take out books
but eventually they were too heavy for me to carry home.
My neighbour had books delivered by a volunteer and
I started borrowing them from her.
Then I got my own volunteer who brings me new books every few weeks.
I like to have a cup of coffee and a chat with Geoff when he drops the books off.
Frances >> I would recommend it.
It is something you can do if you enjoy books and
you like sharing your love of books with other people
then it's something that can give you great pleasure and
also the people you visit; it gives them great pleasure as well.
If you, or someone you know, may be interested
in using The Home Library Service, please
email home.library@rbwm.gov.uk, telephone 01628 796969,
or visit the web address on screen now (http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_home_service.htm).
If you may be interested in becoming a volunteer
for the Home Library Service, helping us bring
library services to people in their homes, please
email volunteers.library@rbwm.gov.uk, telephone 01628 796247,
or visit the web address on screen now (http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_volunteering.htm).