Libraries in Carmarthenshire are set to return with a click and collect service from Wednesday, July 1.
Members will be able to order a selection of books to collect from the county council’s libraries at Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli.
A delivery service is being developed for those who are still shielding in line with Welsh Government advice.
Library members will be able to pre-order titles through an online catalogue or by calling a dedicated library phone line where they will be offered a choice of subjects and genres.
Staff will then provide an allocated time slot for members to collect books from one of the three town centre libraries or arrange for them to be delivered if required.
This service will remain in place until libraries can resume normal operations, although there is no timescale yet for when that will be.
Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “We are so pleased to be able to offer this new service to our library members. We appreciate how difficult the lockdown has been for people and having access to a good range of reading material will be welcomed by our members.
“Whilst we await further guidance about the full return of our library service, we hope that the click and collect and delivery service we have developed as an interim measure will provide a useful alternative.”
The service is being funded by Carmarthenshire County Council with support from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Resilience Fund.
Collections and deliveries will be strictly by appointment and at set times only to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.
Library members are being reminded about the wide range of digital resources available to them online, including access to publications, magazines, comic books and interactive stories and activities for children.
People can also learn a new language, get up to speed on computer software with online tutorials, have access to online academic journals, search through hundreds of encyclopaedias as well as over 200,000 images and audio files, and nearly 200 videos.
The click, collect and delivery service will be available from July 1. Visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/libraries or call 01267 234567.
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