Library services for the housebound
Who is the service for?
This is a special home delivery service for residents of the borough who are because of age or infirmity:
- Totally housebound
- Or can't get to their local library
- And do not have any neighbours or friends who can visit the library for them.
How does it work?
When you are accepted for the service, a member of the library staff will contact you and fill in a detailed questionnaire about your reading tastes.
You will then be visited once a month at a regular time by a volunteer who will deliver your books. Most readers have 6 – 8 books a month. You will be able to give the volunteer any messages for the library staff who choose your books.
There is no charge for any part of the service.
What can you borrow?
All library materials can be borrowed by housebound readers.
This means you can borrow:
- Novels– in normal or large print, hardbacks and paperbacks
- Non-fiction books
- Books on hobbies and interests
- Books on health and your rights
- Books on history and travel
- Music compact discs
- Unabridged story tapes and compact discs (restricted to readers who cannot manage printed books)
- Videos
- DVDs
You can ask at any time for particular books that you would like to read. There may be a waiting list for the more popular titles.
The library will also try to provide you with any information which you need – about the Council, the local area, welfare rights, transport, what’s on… You only have to ask.
What should you do?
If you think you may be entitled to the Housebound Library Service you can:
- Ask for more details at your local library
- Get a neighbour, friend or relative to ask at the library for you
- Ring up your local library: the numbers are listed on the library website-
- Write to your local library giving your name, address and telephone number-
The Housebound Library Service can only reach a limited number of people at any one time. It is therefore important that the service is provided for those people who need it most. This means that you may be asked to wait until there is a place available on the waiting list at your nearest library.
Contact the Housebound Library Service
If you have any other questions about the Housebound Library Service please contact the Social Inclusion Librarian
Tony Finerty
The Cottage,
Little Green,
Richmond,
Surrey
TW9 1QL
Telephone: 020 8912 0654
Email: t.finerty@richmond.gov.uk