From Monday 12th April

Hello,
 
I am delighted to be able to say that on Monday the library will be re-opening for people to come in and browse and borrow books in person, not just for Ring and Read.
 
As you will know, non-essential shops can re-open from Monday, and libraries, community centres, hairdressers and various other businesses can also return to admitting members of the public. The hold up in confirming what we can do at Low Fell Library has been because we have been waiting for an update on various roof-leaks that appeared during winter. We have now been informed that these have been repaired, so we can put the buckets away and let people in 😊.
 
We are returning to the situation we had in the autumn – library users should be logged in to Track & Trace when they come in to the library either with the NHS phone app and the QR code we have on display, or giving details at the desk. People (unless exempt) should wear a face mask and use hand sanitiser, and we expect them to stay no longer than 15 minutes
 
Returned books should still go in the black book tub for quarantining and discharging/reshelving three days later. We can do photocopying for the usual charges, and there are still no library fines. We won’t be taking reservations yet and there will be no public computer access, newspapers or refreshments at present. Ring and Read remains an option for those who need or prefer it.
 
For the moment we are keeping the current 10-12/2-4 opening times - see full details below.
 
I hope you and those closest to you are safe and well, and that you are able to enjoy some of the increasing freedoms as we emerge from lock down. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

With best wishes
 
Frank
Frank Hindle
Chair, Low Fell Library Association

The digital collection gives you 24 hour access to thousands of e-books and hundreds of e-audiobooks. It's available to all Gateshead library members. 

With Borrowbox you can:

• borrow up to 10 eBooks and 6 eAudiobooks free of charge for 3 weeks
• avoid fines as books are returned automatically at the end of your loan period
• return books before the end of the 3 weeks - we would encourage you to do this as there is currently a big demand for titles
• renew your eBook or eAudiobook twice - you will be prompted to do this
• reserve the title and you will receive it on the date that the book is due to be returned - you may even receive the book earlier if it is returned before the due date 
• join the online book club that meets on Facebook - just look for
  
  Gateshead Libraries Reading Room