Library Services Directory
S to Z
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
Scanners
All our libraries have a scanner available, with the exception
of Hurdsfield, Prestbury and Weston. The scanner is attached to one
of the People's Network computers so it
is advisable to book in advance to ensure it is available.
Self-service
Alsager, Bollington, Congleton, Holmes
Chapel, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich,
Sandbach and Wilmslow libraries have self-service terminals
available. These use RFID to enable you to
return, renew and take out items without visiting the counter.
Staff are also always on hand to help. Self-service will be
available in all our libraries by 2014.
Sheet Music
Most libraries have some sheet music,
but bigger collections of music scores are available at the largest
libraries. Sets of vocal scores for Cheshire choirs are
also available on request for a fee.
Silk Industry Collection
Macclesfield
Library holds a large collection of books and pamphlets on
the Silk industry and the textile industry in and around
Macclesfield, dating from 1825. The collection can be accessed for
reference only during normal library opening hours. It is housed in
glass cabinets, so please ask staff for assistance.
Skills for Life
Figures show that up to 20% of the
population need some extra help with reading, writing and
mathematics. Libraries in Cheshire East provide some materials to
help, and can also supply details of local courses. Libraries are
welcoming places, and staff are always willing to give advice. The
library can be a useful place for people to find the books that may
ease them back into reading for pleasure when they do not want to
enrol for a formal course at a college.
Cheshire Libraries are joining with
the BBC in their Read More and Write Better campaign
(RAW), and have a stock of the BBC’s promotional material. The
current phase of RaW aims to improve numeracy and computing
skills.
Quick
Read books, written by recognised authors especially for adults
who find reading difficult, are stocked in many of our
libraries.
We also stock material for people
whose want to learn English as an Additional Language
(EAL).
Find more information on Adult and Community Learning, Family
Learning and Parenting opportunities within Cheshire East on the
Move On Cheshire East web pages.
Special Collections
Although these collections are housed in various libraries,
items from selected collections can be reserved through any
library in the county. These are a Militaria collection based at
Chester library; Agricultural at Reaseheath College, Nantwich;
Plays (MS Excel,
404KB) at
Hoole Library; Vocal Scores at the County Reserve Store and
Special Needs collections for children at
Chester Library, Crewe Library, Macclesfield Library
and
Winsford library.
Through a special arrangement the 'Railway' collection at
Widnes
Library is also available to Cheshire East borrowers.
Other special collections include the Romany Collection at Wilmslow Library, the Silk Collection and Tunnicliffe Collection, both at
Macclesfield Library and the Whitfield Collection at Knutsford Library. Please note that these
collections are for reference use only in the host library. Items
within these collections are not available for loan and
cannot be reserved through any library.
Special Needs
We have a collection of books and
other materials for use by parents/carers with children who have special needs - visual,
audio, physical, emotional or learning difficulties. For special
needs provision for adults, see our disabilities entry.
For details visit our additional
library services web page.
Story Time
Story times for under 5's are offered
at various Cheshire East Libraries. A full
list of storytimes is available. You can also check
the individual library pages for
details.
Supernova
Supernova provides a method of
magnifying computer screens, including the internet and email, and
gives a range of colour options to help people with various eye
problems. It can also convert text to speech, for those who are
unable to read the screen. Contact your local library for information.
Talking books
All libraries have collections of talking books, most of
which are complete, unabridged recordings. There is generally a
small charge for borrowing these items,
but persons who have difficulty in reading or handling books may
borrow them free of charge.
Lists of talking books recently added to stock can be found on our
library catalogue.
Teenagers
There is a teenage section in every library with books chosen
for young people. These include both popular series and classics.
All parts of the library are open to teenagers; this includes the
Reference area, Multimedia and information and study areas. You can
also use the People's Network computers free of
charge for an hour each day - terms and conditions apply (PDF,
357KB) and a signed parental consent form (PDF,
357KB) is required for under 16s.
Each library has a 'Teenage Fact File' (PDF, 43KB) - a
reference collection of leaflets on subjects that concern young
people.
Teenspace
The place for teens in Cheshire Libraries. Teenspace links to a range of websites and
services aimed specifically at teenagers. It's for you, for
lifestyle and learning!
Tunnicliffe Collection
Macclesfield Library holds a
collection of books and ephemera from 1933 about the work of, or
written or illustrated by C F Tunnicliffe (1901-1979), a local
author and illustrator born in Langley. His illustrations were
predominantly of flora and fauna and wildlife, particularly birds.
Some of the books contain notes made by Tunnicliffe. The collection
includes Brooke Bond Dividend Tea cards, greetings cards and
postcards illustrated by Tunnicliffe.
The collection can be accessed for reference only during normal
library opening hours. Please ask staff for assistance, as the
collection is housed in glass cabinets.
Virtual Reference Library - VRL
The Virtual Reference Library
or VRL provides access to an extensive range of
reference works at the click of a mouse. Cheshire East Library
Service has subscribed to many popular resources on behalf of their
members. Britannica, The Dictionary of National Biography,
newspaper databases, Kompass Business Directory and many more can
be viewed by entering your library card number and PIN when prompted. The majority of
resources may be used from home or work, and all can be accessed at
your local library via the People's Network
computers.
Visual Impairment
All libraries have collections of books in large print, as well
as talking books on cassette and CD. People who have difficulty
reading print or handling books can get free reservations on large
print books and talking books, and are not charged for the loan of
talking books.
Some of our larger libraries also have extra facilities for the
visually impaired, such as Aladdin magnifiers (allowing print to be
magnified to large sizes), Pronto Reading Machines (converting the
printed word into synthetic speech), Supernova and various computer
software enabling computer text and the internet to be available in
magnified and synthetic speech formats. Libraries have a hand-held
magnifier or magnifying sheet available for use on site.
There is a special Visual Impairment collection at Library
Headquarters, and items from this collection are available through
any library in Cheshire East, where a
catalogue can also be found. The collection consists of
audio-described videos, which are designed to enable people with a
visual impairment to enjoy film again with the help of added sound,
and a range of leaflets from the Royal National Institute of Blind
People and elsewhere.
The library can provide information on other talking book
services and general services - both local and national - for
visually impaired people.
Walter Crane Collection
Walter Crane, the illustrator, designer and painter, was born in
Liverpool in 1845, and appointed director of design at Manchester
School of Art in 1893. He died in Sussex in 1915.
Chester Library has a small collection of about 60 volumes by
Walter Crane, including the series of Toy Books, nursery rhymes and
fairy tales for very young children, and his writings on decorative
art such as 'Decorative Illustration' and 'Ideals in Art'. Please
contact the library in advance to view the collection as it is
located on closed access.
Whitfield Collection
Knutsford Library holds a
collection of books about Mrs Gaskell and her works, which was
collected by Professor A Stanton Whitfield (1900-1975). He was
teaching English Literature in Japan whilst writing his book,
Mrs Gaskell: her life and work, resulting in
several items in the collection being in Japanese. The collection
contains many of Mrs Gaskell's novels, biography, journals, foreign
language editions, dramatisations of her novels, literary
criticisms, cuttings and miscellaneous background material, and can
be accessed during normal library opening hours.
Wordprocessing and World Wide Web
see Computers
