Library Services Directory
Choose from the letters below for
more information about the Library Service and what it
offers.
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Access
17 out of our 18
libraries are accessible for wheelchair users (the exception is
Prestbury, where there are two steps).
All libraries with more than a single public floor have a
lift.
Most have automatic doors for ease of use.
Those libraries which have public toilets also have a fully
accessible toilet.
Library car parks (where available) have marked bays for disabled
users.
Induction loops for hearing aid users are fitted in all of our
meeting rooms and at the enquiry desks in our larger
libraries.
Regular access audits are conducted to check on conditions of
ramps, handrails, non-slip flooring, lighting levels, induction
loops and the approaches to buildings. Our signage takes into
account the needs of people with a visual impairment.
We also have a mobile library
service for people who do not live near a library, and a
Books on
Wheels service for people who, because of age or infirmity, are
unable to collect their own books from a library.
Activities
Details of events and activities at your library can be found on
their
individual web page. You can also find information about events
across Cheshire East in the What's On online guide.
Find information about library activities and news on our
latest news page.
Archives
The Cheshire
Record Office collects and cares for the principal collection
of records and archives for the County of Cheshire, from the 12th
century to the present day. Members of the public can consult these
archives in the search room, free of charge and by appointment. A
postal and internet service is also available and we can advise on
archives held elsewhere.
Arts Service
Whether your interest is
dance, music, theatre, art, poetry or literature,
the Arts
Service provides details of events and organisations across the
region.
The Service also provides a directory of artists and information for
artists. You will also find details of disability arts and the
rural
touring networks.
Babies
All babies are welcome at our libraries and can join at any age.
Each library has a collection of books suitable for babies and
toddlers and some hold weekly story
times or rhyme times (children must be accompanied by a
parent or carer).
Bookcrawl
Bookcrawl encourages parents and carers to take their young
children to the library. The children are rewarded with stickers
and certificates when they borrow books. They collect
four stickers to receive a certificate and there are ten
certificates to collect. These are illustrated by famous children's
authors. Once they have collected the ten certificates, the
children receive a winner's certificate and a blue Bookstart Bear.
Children aged 0-4 years can join in when they become library
members.
Books
Books are loaned to library members,
free of charge. Whether you enjoy classic literature, contemporary
novels, short stories, travel writers, biographies, history,
graphic novels or the latest science fiction adventure you
will find books to excite, fascinate and intrigue, to inform and
educate, to stimulate new interests and develop existing ones.
Whatever your taste in reading, Cheshire East Libraries have something to
offer.
There are books for all ages, as well as talking books on
cassette and CD and large print books. You can borrow up to 20
books at any one time.
You can borrow all books unless they are for "reference only";
every library has a collection of reference books. The larger
libraries have more extensive collections. The Virtual
Reference Library can be accessed on the library computers or
from any computer using your library membership number and a
PIN.
Our online catalogue
is available for your use in all libraries or from any computer. If
you have not used this before the staff will be pleased to help
you. The catalogue shows items in all Cheshire East and Cheshire
West and Chester libraries. You can borrow and return items from
any library in either authority using your Cheshire East library
membership.
If you can't find the book you want, ask the library staff. If
it is already out on loan you can reserve it for
a small charge.
Books may be borrowed for up to 3
weeks and can be renewed unless they have been reserved by another
library member. They can be renewed up to 8 times either over the
phone (0845 1480148) or through the catalogue. You will need your
library membership number and a PIN to renew via the catalogue.
Cheshire
East Libraries also have access to Braille books for
children and adults; please ask a member of staff for
details.
Books on Prescription in
Cheshire
Books on Prescription scheme in partnership
with the NHS in Cheshire aiming to increase access to
self-help materials free through libraries across Cheshire for
people who suffer from anxiety, depression or stress-related
conditions. Our leaflet (PDF, 211KB)
contains details of the scheme and a booklist (PDF, 96KB) is
available. The list of available books in Cheshire East
libraries
Books on Wheels Service
Cheshire East
Libraries in partnership with the Womens Royal Voluntary
Service (WRVS) provide a personal service direct to the
homes of readers who, through age or infirmity, are unable to
collect their own books from a library, and whose friends and
relations are unable to do this for them. Womens Royal Voluntary
Service volunteers visit the readers on a regular basis, usually
fortnightly, delivering the books and talking books that have been
asked for. They provide a very friendly and efficient
service.
The following Cheshire East libraries provide a Books on Wheels
service:
Alderley Edge,
Alsager,
Congleton,
Crewe,
Holmes Chapel,
Knutsford,
Macclesfield,
Middlewich,
Nantwich,
Poynton,
Sandbach, and
Wilmslow.
We produce a quarterly newsletter, Round the Houses, for
our Books on Wheels clients. It lists some of the new books
available and includes puzzle pages and readers’ contributions in
the form of memories, book reviews and poems. For more information
contact your local
library.
Books on Wheels is always looking for new volunteers to help
maintain the level of service that we offer and our volunteers give
different levels of input ranging from one day a month to a few
hours a week. There are a number of ways that you could help:
- Visiting / Driving: Volunteers go out to
readers from all the libraries listed above, using their own cars,
for which they claim expenses. It is not necessary to be able to
drive as volunteers always go out in pairs. Routes vary, as some
people will like to have a chat while others see the visit as a
delivery. This role would suit someone with good communication and
personal skills.
- Book Selection: Spend a few hours in an
afternoon using selection sheets to choose books and talking
books to suit individual tastes. This is perfect for someone who
enjoys solving a puzzle! (This role is not available at all the
Books on Wheels bases, as in some cases it is the library staff who
will do the book selection).
Bookstart
A national scheme to encourage
families to visit the library and share the joys or reading and
looking at books with babies and toddlers. It's never too soon to
start! Find information about the national Bookstart scheme or Bookstart in
Cheshire East.
Baby Bookcrawl is an initiative related to
Bookstart that children aged 0-4 years can join when they become
library members. Contact your library for more information about
Bookcrawl. All
Cheshire
East Libraries run weekly pre-school rhyme and story
times.
Business Information Service
The Business
Information Service at Ellesmere Port Library can help you with
almost any enquiry, from the annual report of one of the UK's top
1,000 companies, to information on the Government's Statistical
Office.
Whatever your business enquiry, call us on 0151 337 4693, email
bisep@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk
Catalogue
Nearly every
library has a copy of the Catalogue on computer for you to use. The
online catalogue
is also available from any computer. Items can be reserved and
renewed from the catalogue using your library membership number and
PIN. You can also manage
your personal record online and create a wishlist of items you
would like to borrow in the future.
The catalogue includes details of our entire stock of books, CDs,
CD-Roms, console games and DVDs. It also includes details of some
reference stock and leaflets available. Items out on loan or from
another library can be reserved for a small fee.The catalogue shows
items in all Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester libraries.
You can borrow and return items from any library in either
authority using your Cheshire East library membership.
CDs
Whatever your taste in music, you'll
discover something worth listening to. You will also find foreign
language courses, stories for children and adults (talking books),
and Open Learning packages. There is a charge for this service. The
current charges are listed on the Library
Charges page and are on display in all libraries.
You can find out what's in stock by checking the library
catalogue either online or at one of the libraries. Ask the
library staff to help you find what you want; if it is already out
on loan, you can reserve it for a small charge.
CD-ROMs
East Cheshire libraries have CD-ROMs which are available for loan.
There is a charge for this service. The current charges are listed
on the Library Charges
page and are on display in all libraries. Many libraries
have computers that you can use to explore CD-ROMs which are
for reference use.
Charges
It is free to join the library and
to borrow books. There is a small charge to reserve books.
Multimedia items have a hire charge. The People's Network
computers are free to use for the first hour, after which there
is a charge for use. Details of the current charges for these and
other services are listed on the Library
Charges page and are on display in all libraries.
Cheshire Leisure Card
See Leisure Card for
details.
Cheshire Record Office - Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies
The Cheshire Record
Office collects and preserves historical records and archives
relating to both the ancient and modern county of Cheshire and the
diocese of Chester. It also makes these records available to
members of the public, together with major collections of maps and
newspapers.
Everyone is welcome to consult these sources in the search room
free of charge. They are used by people with a wide variety of
interests, including the research of local and family history,
house history, school and college projects, and for various
official investigations.
You will need to make an appointment to visit the search room;
it is best to do this at least a week in advance.
The Record Office subscribes to the CARN readers ticket scheme;
please bring proof of identity, including name, address and
signature, so that staff can issue a card.
If you are unable to visit in person, staff will answer, free of
charge, postal and email enquiries on the availability of documents
and suggest appropriate records for particular research
topics. Searches for information in records or other sources
held by the Record Office can be undertaken by our research
consultant for a fee.
For more information phone 01244 972574 or fax 01244
973812
Email: recordoffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk
Cheshire Record Office, Duke St, Chester, Cheshire CH1 1RL
Children and Young People
Children of any
age can join the library. Every library has a children and young
people's section, with storybooks for all ages and information
books to help with homework and interests. In addition to books,
there are DVDs, CDs, story tapes and CD-ROMs available for loan in
many libraries. The library catalogue has details
of all items in stock. Please note however that there is a small
charge for borrowing multimedia items. Children may borrow up to 20
items, including up to 8 CDs and DVDs. However, only 2 computer
games or DVD box sets can be borrowed at any one time.
Children and young people under the age of 16 can use the People's Network
computers with parents permission (PDF,
173KB). Use of the computers is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy (PDF 173KB).
Please contact your local library for further details.
All Cheshire East libraries hold weekly
rhyme or story times for pre-school children. Homework help for
children and young people and information for their parents/carers
is available on our Children and Young People web pages.
Children with Special Needs
We provide a range of materials for children with hearing
impairment, visual impairment, physical and learning problems and
dyslexia.
A special collection based at
Macclesfield Library includes tactile books, pop-up and flap
books, ‘noisy’ books and action books.
We provide children’s large print books in many libraries, and also
giant print books and talking books.
Clearvision books (picture
books with text overlaid with Braille) allow a sighted child
and visually impaired adult (or vice versa) to share a book
together. They are kept at Library Headquarters, but may be
requested from any
library.
Our stock of
audio-described videos includes some items for children. They
are useful for children with low vision, as the extra sound track
describes actions or settings that they may otherwise miss.
We have a
Deafness Collection which includes material for children and
young people. It includes material for learning British Sign
Language, signed books and books about deaf children.
We stock Makaton items. Makaton encourages
children to communicate using signs, and then gradually, as a link
is made between the word and the sign, the signs are dropped and
speech takes over. Makaton also uses symbols to support the written
word.
Teachers requiring special needs material should contact the
Education Library Service.
Community Information
Every Cheshire
East Library has a reference collection of leaflets in a
series of Blue Information Binders. These leaflets cover subjects
as varied as income tax, contraception, footpaths, employment
rights, educational issues and council information. Leaflets can be
ordered from the library or our Leaflet Service.
A Teen
Factfile (PDF, 66KB) is also available in each library
offering leaflets covering a range of subjects of special interest
to young people. Further information for teenagers can be found on
our teenspace web
pages.
There is a Local Organisations binder containing information
about local clubs and societies, and a constantly updated database
of addresses held in our libraries. If you would like details of a
club or society added to this database, please ask a member of
staff.
All East Cheshire libraries display leaflets about local
attractions and events.
Computers
All Cheshire libraries have People's Network computers which can be
booked for your use. These will allow you to access the internet,
the Catalogue,
homework resources and the Virtual
Reference Library. You can send emails, use Microsoft Word for
word processing and other Office software. Most of the resources
available on our library computers can also be used on any computer
if you have a library membership number and PIN.
Printing and scanning facilities are available at all our
libraries. Demand for use can be high, so booking a PC in advance
is advisable. Use of the computers is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Acceptable Use
Policy (PDF 173KB).
Please contact your local library for further details.
Computer use is free for the first hour of every day. Please
remember to bring your library membership card with you. If you are
not a member, please bring 1 form of identification with you (which
must have your address on) and join on the day or use our
online joining form!
Under 16s will need a parental consent declaration form
(PDF 173KB) signed by their parent or guardian before using the
computers.
We have special screens and speech synthesisers for people who
are visually impaired.
Console games
Console games are available for loan from some libraries. Formats
include Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, and PC CD-ROM. Games are
loaned on a weekly basis and there is a hire charge for them. The
current charges are listed on the Library Charges
page and are on display in all libraries. Further details
are available from individual libraries.
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