Falkirk Community Trust Library staff are excited about welcoming customers back into their libraries after a long 17 week lockdown of closed buildings with most staff on furlough. The Libraries have been open for appointments to pick up their Click & Collect items since 6th April, but Monday 26th April was the first day that the libraries’ doors were open for customers to come in, browse the shelves and use the PCs since December.
Staff have been getting refresher training in using the necessary appointment systems, and in keeping themselves and customers as safe as possible from Covid., as well as sorting through the many items that have been returned, and making sure that users get some wonderful books and audiobooks when they Click & Collect.
All our staff are really looking forward to seeing our lovely customers:
‘I am so happy to be back at work and the fact we are so busy is fantastic. It is lovely to see all our customers again.’ Lisa from Larbert Library
‘Really looking forward to reopening and seeing all our lovely customers again! We’ve had lots of positive feedback already.’ Victoria from Grangemouth Library
And our customers are very happy to see us too:
‘I am really pleased to see the library open again, I have missed you.’ Denny customer
‘So glad to have you back open. It’s a bit of normality’ Larbert customer
‘I have been spending a fortune at Asda so it is great to see the library open again.’ Larbert customer
Covid precautionary measures mean that the number of customers in the libraries at any one time has to be limited, so customers will have to book an appointment to come in and browse, to use the PCs, or (at Falkirk Library) to get a bus pass. All of these appointments can be made through the Falkirk Community Trust website or by phoning a library.
Even more change is afoot at Falkirk Library, which is having building work to make space for Falkirk Council’s Advice Hub to move into part of the first floor. Whilst work is in progress there will be a reduced selection of adult fiction and a small selection of junior items available on the second floor. The adult non-fiction section is also now in its permanent location and available on the second floor. Once the building work is complete by the end of May, the Junior Library and Adult Fiction, including large print and spoken word, will fully reopen on the first floor.
‘Having the Advice Hub in Falkirk Library will make it much easier for customers who do not have IT to access essential Falkirk Council services. This is an exciting development that will benefit our customers and attract new users to the building’ said Anna Herron, Team Leader – Libraries