Library Services Directory
A to C
The following alphabetical letters are
quick links for more information about the Library Service and what
it offers.
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
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 most of 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.
Aladdin magnifiers
These allow print to be magnified to large sizes for people with
visual impairment. Aladdin
magnifiers can be found at Macclesfield and Wilmslow libraries.
Archives
Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies collect 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.
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 most hold weekly story
times or rhyme times (children must be accompanied by a
parent or carer).
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. Our eResources 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 4 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, 724 KB)
contains details of the scheme and a booklist.
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.
All Cheshire
East Libraries run weekly pre-school rhyme and story
times and your child can join the Bookstart
Bear Club (PDF 84KB).
Catalogue
Every library has a copy of the Catalogue on computer for you to
use, apart from Hurdsfield, Prestbury and Weston. 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 wish list of items you
would like to borrow in the future. The catalogue includes details
of the entire stock of books, CDs, CD-Roms, console games and
DVDs in both Cheshire East and
Cheshire West and Chester libraries. 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. 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.
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
Cheshire Archives and Local
Studies collect 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,
357KB). Use of the computers is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Acceptable Use Policy (PDF
357KB). 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.
Computers
All Cheshire East 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 our eResources.
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
. Some libraries have an
IT Buddy available.
Computer use is free for one hour each day (subject to
availability) for library members. 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! There are charges for guest users and
further time. Computers are automatically shut down 15 minutes
before the library closes.
Use of the computers is subject to the terms and conditions of
the Acceptable Use Policy (PDF,
357KB). Under 16s will need a parental consent declaration form
(PDF, 357KB) signed by their parent or guardian before using
the computers.
Printing and scanning facilities are available at all our
libraries. There is a charge for printing. Demand for use can be
high, so booking a PC in advance is advisable. We have special
screens and speech synthesisers for people who are visually
impaired. Please contact your local library for further details.
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.
Customer Service Points
Most Cheshire East libraries now have Customer Service
Points. Customers will find information about council services, be
able to access planning applications online, apply for
concessionary travel tickets and present Benefit Claims for onward
processing. Some carry a small range of leaflets advertising local
tourist attractions as well as What's On notices for the immediate
area.
