Do you have difficulty getting to your local Surrey library due to ill health, disability, mobility problems or caring responsibilities? Do you still want to enjoy books and audio books? If so, you may be eligible for our Library Direct service, or you could use one of our alternative services - Open Ticket or eLibrary services.
Library Direct
Library Direct is a free service which provides:
- an extended loan period
- no overdue charges
- free reservations for items held in Surrey stock
Surrey libraries have an excellent selection of books in standard and large print to suit your personal reading tastes and interests. We also stock a wide variety of audio books which can be played using a standard CD player.
Which service is best for you?
Library Direct Home Service
Library Direct can arrange for books and audio books to be brought to you at home on a regular basis by a volunteer checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Our dedicated volunteers will select books and audio books based on your recommendations, favourite authors and reading preferences.
In addition to having access to library stock, this service also helps to combat isolation. Volunteers will often stop for a coffee and a chat, and in many cases form friendships with the people they are visiting. We also accept individual residents living in sheltered accommodation.
If you are interested in registering for this free service, please fill in the Library Direct Home Service registration form, or ask someone to fill it in on your behalf. Alternatively, if you wish to discuss the Library Direct Home service with a member of our team, please call Library Direct on 01372 833165 (Monday to Friday).
Please note: we are only able to accept Surrey residents for this service.
Library Direct Community Settings
As well as supporting individuals in their homes, Library Direct offers an opportunity for a variety of 'community settings' such as care homes, nursing homes and rehabilitation centres, to provide a library service to their residents.
The setting chooses a variety of books online and then collects them from a suitable Surrey Library. Where a community setting is interested in this option, they will need to provide a member of their own staff or one of their own volunteers to select and collect the library resources for their residents.
Please refer to Library Direct Community Settings Best Practice Guide for further information and suggestions on getting the most out of this service for your residents. If you are interested in receiving services at your location and are happy with our terms of agreement you will need to complete the Library Direct Community Settings registration form.
Please note: we are only able to accept community settings located within the boundaries of Surrey for this service.
Open Ticket
If you are unable to visit the library yourself due to medical reasons, but have a friend, relative or neighbour who can borrow and return library items on your behalf, you may wish to consider Open Ticket.
eLibrary services
All members of Surrey Libraries have access to a wide range of eLibrary services including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eNewspaper, eMagazines and eComics, which you can use on your computer or smart devices.
Volunteering
Have you got a few hours to spare? Would you like to help people who have difficulty getting to the library? Visit our Library Direct volunteering page to find out more.
