Library Services Directory
D to L
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
Day Centres
Please visit the Elderly
People's Homes pages for details of services offered by
Cheshire East Libraries.
Deaf and hard of hearing
Library staff are trained to appreciate the needs of deaf and
hard of hearing library users, and while there are very few staff
who can use British Sign Language they will do their best to
communicate by the most appropriate method.
Larger libraries are fitted with an induction loop at the counter
or enquiry desk.
There is a special collection on deafness, located at Library
Headquarters but accessible through any library in Cheshire East, where catalogues of
the collection are also available. The collection includes British
Sign Language learning materials in a variety of formats, open
captioned videos (which need no special caption reader to access
them) and a range of books on deafness issues. DVDs, which are
available in most libraries, almost always have captions and again
do not need a caption reader.
Disabilities
Wheelchair access is provided in all libraries, except at
Prestbury, where adaptation would be
extremely difficult. All libraries with more than one public floor
have lifts.
Special facilities are available for visually impaired people and induction loops are
in most libraries for people who are deaf
and hard of hearing. Special resources include large print and
talking books available in all libraries. Some of our larger
libraries provide additional resources such as Supernova and Aladdin magnifiers.
There is a special collection of books and other materials for
children with special needs, as well as
basic skills collections for adults who would like to improve their
literacy and numeracy skills.
We also offer a Books on Wheels
service for those who are unable to visit a library themselves.
Please ask at your local library.
DVDs
DVDs are available from libraries for loan on a weekly
basis. There is a charge for this service. The current charges
are listed in the Library Charges
leaflet, on display in all libraries.
Ebooks
Cheshire Libraries do not currently offer ebooks, however we are
looking into the resource and keeping abreast of developments in
this area and will hopefully be able to offer ebooks at some stage
in the future. In the mean time, you may find some of the resources
on our ebooks page useful.
Education Library Service
The Education Library Service (ELS) in Winsford
serves primary, secondary and special school teachers in
subscribing schools. Services include: project collections,
audio-visual resources, guided reading sets, theme fiction,
training, resource lists, primary school library book exchanges via
a mobile library, and advice on a range of school library
management issues. ELS also advises on the most effective use of
learning materials to support the needs of teachers and help them
to deliver the curriculum effectively to all pupils.
Elderly People’s Homes
All residential homes can be provided with a collection of
books. Provision of the service is based on the home signing up to
a range of responsibilities. Please contact
your local library for further details.
Reminiscence boxes are available for loan to Elderly People’s Homes
and similar organisations. These are themed collections of
artefacts, books and other materials which can be used to stimulate
discussion in a group setting.
Fully Booked boxes (themed collections
of books designed for use by groups in an Elderly People's Home
setting) are also available.
Emails
All our libraries have People’s Network
computers. You can send and receive emails. Computers may
be booked for one hour a day free of charge.
English as
an Additional Language
Books and tapes / CDs on learning English as an Additional
Language (EAL) can be borrowed or reserved at any library. Libraries can also offer
information on local courses. Books in foreign
languages can be found at the following libraries and a list of foreign
language books is available (Excel 121KB):
Adult Books:
Polish at Crewe Library and Macclesfield Library
Children’s books:
Polish at Crewe Library
Bengali at Crewe Library
The range of languages stocked varies according to demand.
Some Western European books (French, Spanish, Italian, German) are
also in stock at larger libraries.
There is a World Cinema collection at Macclesfield library.
Events
Details of events at your library can
be found on their individual web page. All libraries hold weekly
rhyme or story times for pre-school
children. 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.
Exhibitions
Some libraries offer free exhibition spaces and facilities for
display. These are very popular and frequently booked up well into
the future. The library will arrange insurance of exhibits - all we
ask in return is 10% commission plus VAT on items sold.
We also have meeting rooms and
tea and coffee making facilities for community groups and
businesses.
If you wish to use these facilities, please ask a member of staff
for details.
Macclesfield Library has a gallery space used by local art
groups and individual artists. Exhibitions change each fortnight
throughout the year and can be viewed during normal library
open hours. For information about exhibitions or bookings please
contact Macclesfield Library
Family
History
Family history research has become very popular and larger
libraries have access to many materials to help with family history
research. As well as the traditional book sources, some
libraries have copies of the local IGI (International Genealogical
Index), trade directories (eg Kellys), census materials etc.
Further family history resources can be
found online and you can book time on the public access computers available in
all Cheshire East libraries. Ancestry.com is available for
use on library computers only via our Virtual
Reference Library. For further information contact your local library.
Fax
You can send and receive faxes at most libraries. There is
a charge for this service. The current charges are listed in the
Library Charges leaflet, on display in
all libraries.
Finding your nearest library
You can find out where your nearest
Cheshire East library is and details of Mobile Library
routes online.
Fines
Fines become due for items returned late to the library. Fines
can be avoided by renewing items by phone, fax, post, the online
catalogue or in person.
Foreign Language Fiction
Cheshire East libraries hold a selection of fiction titles in
foreign languages. Our foreign language
fiction list (Excel 121KB) shows details of the titles by
language and the libraries where they are held.
How to get to the Library
Each library's web page has details
of how to get there, as well as parking information.
Induction loops
Please see Deaf or Hard of
Hearing.
Internet
Visit the Computers
information for more details.
IT Buddy
Alsager, Handforth, Nantwich ,
Poynton and Wilmslow Libraries have regular IT Buddy
sessions, offering help with a variety of computer problems,
MyGuide courses, family history and other resources such as NHS
Choices and Cheshire HomeChoice. Visit the individual library's
page for details of when their Buddy is available.
Age Concern offer IT taster sessions for the over 50s at Disley, Knutsford and
Macclesfield Libraries.
Some libraries offer one-off IT sessions delivered by
library staff. Details of these appear on the individual libraries
web pages.
IT Suite
Macclesfield Library has an IT suite
available for hire by groups or individuals. It is equipped with
ten computers, desks, a screen and projector and an urn is provided
for refreshments. The computers operate on Windows XP with SP3 and
offer Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media Player 11, Adobe Acrobat
8, Microsoft Publisher, RealPlayer and Microsoft Office XP (with
Office 2007 and Microsoft Works compatibility packs). The suite can
be hired at the rate charged for meeting room hire. Please
contact Macclesfield Library for more
information or to book the IT suite.
Several libraries also have meeting
rooms for hire.
Joining the library
Joining the library is free for everyone young or old!
Simply complete the
online registration form or pop into a library. When joining in
person, or using the library for the first time if you joined
online, you will need to bring along an item of identification. It
must show your name and address, for example: Driving Licence,
Medical Card, receipted Gas, Water, Phone, Council Tax or
Electricity Bill, Bank Statement, or Building Society Pass
Book.
You will also have access to our People's
Network computers, which are free to use for one hour each
day. Terms and conditions of use apply (PDF
46KB).
Joining if you are under
16...
You can either be accompanied
by your parent or carer who must bring along one form
of identification and sign your joining form OR your parent or
guardian can sign your form at home and send the necessary
identification with you.
If you would like to use our People's
Network computers you will need your parent or carer to
sign a parental consent form (PDF 46KB). The
computers are free to use for one hour each day. Terms and
conditions of use apply (PDF 46KB).
Once you have joined you can use your Library Card in all
Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester Libraries.
Large
Print books
All libraries in Cheshire East have a selection of books printed
in large type to make reading easier and more comfortable for those
with poor eyesight. If you require a particular title, please ask
the staff for assistance or search the Library Catalogue
Reservations of large print books are free for people who have
difficulty reading standard print.
Leaflet Service
Whatever you need to know, we probably have a leaflet all about
it! Whether you need information about money, measles, seat
belts or suntans. Order
leaflets online or visit your
local library to find out what’s available.
LEARN partnership
The Libraries for Educational Access Regional Network (LEARN) is
a partnership between all the public library authorities, the
University of Chester and many of the colleges across Cheshire
East, Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington, Halton and
Wirral. If you are registered at any of the libraries in the
partnership you can access the other libraries in the scheme for
reference and study purposes.
Leisure Card
If you receive one or more eligible benefits or rebates you can
save money on library
services with a Cheshire Leisure Card. Just take one form
of identity and proof of your benefit or rebate received to
your local Cheshire East library. Your
Leisure Card doubles up as your library membership card allowing
you to borrow films, music, games and talking books for less. If
your partner qualifies for a Cheshire Leisure Card, you can also
apply using your partner's documentation plus a jointly named
document such as a rent book, Council Tax bill or bank book. For
terms and conditions ask at the library.
Library events
Details of events 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.
Literacy
Cheshire East Libraries provide services to help adults to
read and
write better. The children's summer reading challenge
encourages children to continue and improve their reading during
the holidays. Bookstart and the Booksatrt Bear Club
create a love of reading from an early age.
Local History Studies
Most libraries have some material relating to their immediate
locality. Larger libraries have books, pamphlets, trade
directories, maps and - on microfilm - local
newspapers, census returns and parish registers. The Central
Collection, the main collection of books and pamphlets relating to
the county is kept at the Cheshire Record
Office, which has an
online Local Studies catalogue covering the full range of
local history sources, both in Cheshire East Libraries and at the
Record Office, and Picture
Cheshire, our main collection of digital images. Macclesfield Library provides a local studies leaflet (PDF,
77KB) showing local studies sources held in the library.
Lost Library Cards
If you lose your library membership card it is worth checking
whether it has been handed in at your local library. There is a
charge for a replacement adult card at any computerised library,
including Mobile libraries. If you need a replacement card you will
need to bring one form of identification to your
library. The charge for a replacement adult card is
£1.50 (75p for Cheshire Leisure
Card holders).
