From left: Linda Albertson, Megan Jordan-Jones and Myoung Yi will work to provide the Library Link service to seniors in the Bega Valley. Photo: Supplied.
Senior Australians in the Bega Valley Shire are being asked to contact the Bega Valley Shire Library to trial a new service to deliver library materials to people in their homes or village.
The Library Link service will deliver library materials to people in their homes, or via village-based pick-up points, and will support the health and wellbeing of vulnerable and isolated people and families in the community who find it difficult to physically get to the library to borrow items during the COVID-19 period.
Bega Valley Shire Library coordinator Megan Jordan-Jones says the service will be offered as a trial for six months so the library can gauge its effectiveness and overall demand for it from the community.
“We want to make sure people can still access the books, magazines, audiobooks and movies they enjoy to help them get through this difficult time,” she said.
Library Link will be a home or hub delivery service. Hubs are village post offices or businesses which have agreed to be drop-off and pick-up points.
“It will not be possible to deliver to all addresses within the Bega Valley Shire, but if you qualify for Library Link you may be able to pick up your library selections from a hub in a nearby village,” said Ms Jordan-Jones.
If accepted into the trial, up to 10 items per library member can be delivered on a four-weekly basis.
Library Link clients can make their selections through the library’s online catalogue, or library staff can make personalised selections for people based on reading and listening preferences, and favourite authors.
Residents who meet two of the conditions of the service’s eligibility criteria can contact the library to register an expression of interest.
Eligibility criteria includes being aged above 65; having little or no connectivity; having a health vulnerability or a disability; living alone; or having transport issues. Library Link will operate under strict social distancing, quarantine and sanitisation protocols. All library items will be quarantined and cleaned before delivery and following pick-up.
Contact Bega Valley Shire Library on 02 6499 2127, by email or visit its website to submit an expression of interest in the Library Link service.
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