Forum Topic

LBH Libraries

As a follow up to Vanessa Smith's previous post, please would anybody be able to shed any further light as to why at least some of our libraries are not offering a skeleton 'click and collect' service?  I'm aware that many other areas have continued to provide some level of service, albeit within limited hours and carefully socially-distanced.  If Hounslow council truly wanted to support residents' mental health and wellbeing this would go a long way in helping, offering solace and stimulus to many, particularly those who are wholly isolated during this time. It would also support children's literacy and education, which, like it or not, canot soley be supported online. To facilitate this only a small number of sites would need to be opened, with just a small foyer collection/drop off area open to the public on an individually booked basis.  Should anyone with any influence happen to read this I would please urge them to do whatever they can to make this happen as soon as possible.

Alison Smith ● 1158d12 Comments

I'm back at Isleworth Pool & Library today and there is indeed a Rapid Test Point. It's off an entrance to the library from the main road.

Anne England ● 1073d

From Hounslow:As you know LBH has been providing rapid community testing using lateral flow tests across the borough from the 5th January 2021.  At present, we have been instructed by government to provide rapid community testing until the 30th June 2021, and our current funding from the Department of Health and Social Care is secured up to this point. This was an extension from the original deadline of the 31st March 2021. Isleworth library will be used as a test centre until at least 30th June 2021. This arrangement is regularly reviewed by Public Health and LBH emergency contingency service. We will post any changes to this arrangement in the media and on social platforms to ensure the residents are kept fully informed. We expect asymptotic rapid community testing to play a future part in both our key mitigation against the future spread of coronavirus (including responding to any variants of concern) and also in allowing national restrictions to ease as we move out of lockdown and sectors open up.  Assistant Director for Customers, Culture, Libraries and RegistrationProper Officer for Registration MattersGiven the layout of Isleowrth Leisure Centre I would have thought that allowing the library area to be used could be managed - unless that is what is being used for the testing?

Vanessa Smith ● 1073d

You could well be right but unless I am more unobservant than I already know (spelling errors excepted):I was at Isleworth Pool 11.15a.m. this morning and not leaving until about 1.45p.m. I had to walk right by the library to exit the building, there being a one-way system in place, and I saw nothing of what you mention. Maybe the testing is in a part of the library I couldn't see but everything looked totally quiet to me.

Anne England ● 1073d

Fnally got an answer - Hounslow are providing rapid community testing up until 30th June at Isleworth library "at least".

Vanessa Smith ● 1074d

What a shame, though, that the graphics department at Hounslow don't know the difference between 'practise' and 'practice'. The signs which greet you at the library advise to 'Practice Safe Distancing'. Aargh! Hammersmith & Fulham Council got it right.

Anne England ● 1091d

Although it's not yet fully open due to the ongoing works, Brentford Library is looking fantastic inside and out. Cherry (whatever they are called) trees have been planted outside as an extra touch. I hope that the brickwork above the entrance saying Gift of Andrew Carnegie is going to be touched up though - it's looking rather ropey at the moment and spoils an otherwise fabulous job.Re the classes which will be held in the Adult Education rooms, I really do hope there is something more on offer than English for Speakers of Other Languages and Basic Skills.

Anne England ● 1092d

In the case of Isleworth library which is being used as a Covid testing station, there is simply no reason I can see why it cannot open again. The building has several entrances so it should be a piece of cake to work out how the two functions can work, well, for us normal, simple people it is. I have e-mailed the cabinet portfolio holder for leisure, to ask what is going on and when we can expect the library service to resume, and as per ususal been totally ignored. This is just a joke and I am compiling a list of councillors who ignore their correspondence, which is growing longer and longer. Come next May's local elections I won't be able to make the effort to go to a polling station and put a cross by their names, I suggest a few more people do the same.

Vanessa Smith ● 1093d

In both cases, they ask you not to pick up books unless you intend to borrow/buy them, so it's not an issue. In any case, the latest research (eg. in The Lancet last week) suggests that the primary risk is airborne, and that all these worries over catching Covid from surfaces & objects are seriously overblown. Hopefully all this quarantining of books and groceries will disappear soon.

Bryan Betts ● 1097d

If there is a 72 hour quarantine for returned books, what about borrowed books?  Also books bought from book shops.

Nicholas Beard ● 1098d

Joy for book lovers in Hounslow as libraries reopenHounslow libraries reopen safely for residents in line with the COVID-19 roadmap.Published: Wednesday, 14th April 2021Image of booksImage of library books stacked upResidents will once again be able to browse the shelves of most of Hounslow’s libraries as they reopen across the borough starting this week (from 12 April).Library staff have been busy shaking off the dust on the borough's prized collection of books and making the venues as safe as possible.Whilst Hounslow libraries have been physically closed the service has been flourishing online. Online literature lovers have continued to access thousands of online eBooks, eMagazines and eAudiobooks.Sue Hayter, Assistant Director for Customers, Libraries and Registration at Hounslow Council, said:“We know that Hounslow residents of all ages have relied on books and stories to get them through the months of lockdown. We are delighted to see residents accessing our online services, but understand for some people, this doesn’t substitute being able to browse the shelves.“There is now an opportunity for the Hounslow community to rediscover the wonderful history libraries can offer, unlock imaginations and inspire new ideas.”Libraries will be made COVID-19 safe by urging visitors to avoid touching books unless they intend to borrow them. All returned books will undergo a 72-hour quarantine before going back on the shelves. There’ll be less human interaction as customers returning books are asked to use the new self-service machines.There will also be social distancing, frequent cleaning and a limited number of people in the building at any one time. Visitors will also be required to wear a face covering unless exempt. The following libraries will reopen from 12 April:Beavers Library: Monday 9am - 3pm, Tuesday 11.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday 11.30am - 5.30pm, Thursday 9am - 3pm, Friday closed, Saturday 9am - 1pm and Sunday closed.Bedfont Library: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Friday closed, Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed.Chiswick Library: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Thursday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed.Cranford Library: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Friday closed, Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed. Feltham Library: Monday: 9.00am - 8.00pm, Tuesday: 9.00am - 5.30pm Wednesday: 9.00am - 5.30pm, Thursday: 9.00am - 8.00pm, Friday: 9.00am - 5.30pm, Saturday: 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed. Hanworth Library: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm Wednesday closed, Thursday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Friday closed, Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed.Osterley Library: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Friday closed Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed.*Brentford Library opening part of the library as construction continues; the children’s library and the ground floor main library will be open: Monday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday closed, Thursday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Friday closed, Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm and Sunday closed.The following libraries will remain closed as they are being used as COVID-19 testing sites:Heston LibraryIsleworth LibraryHounslow House LibraryLibrary computers are available and customers should call the library to book their slot or book online. Computers will be cleaned by library staff after each use.To find out more about library services, including online services, visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/libraries

Vanessa Smith ● 1104d

Here is the correspondence I have had - as you can see trying to get a straight answer is slightly more difficult than the Mars landing! I just don't get why other councils have managed to provide some library services or why the cabinet member responsible can't respond herself instead getting an officer to do it - typical Hounslow!Wed 17/02/2021 12:54ReplyReply allForwardMore actionsDear Ms SmithThank you for your email.Our Libraries have undergone a major refurbishment programme which continued during the first lockdown when safe to do so. It would not have been safe to reopen the Libraries while construction and redecoration was ongoing. However when the refurbishment of each Library was completed and when it was safe for our staff and customers, we reopened the Libraries and offered more than a Click and Collect service.Isleworth Library was opened latterly as it is within a Leisure Centre and there was a change of management for the Leisure Centres. In addition, we had leaks in the Library and these had to be fixed before we could offer any service there.We have followed government guidelines and there was a local decision by our CEO to close the Libraries in December so our staff could be redeployed to help vulnerable residents in the borough. However since the first lockdown, we were able to open most of our Libraries for a number of months and offered browsing, issue and return and public computers along with the other services mentioned in my previous email.We hope to open our Libraries as soon as possible. Further updates will be on our website.Kind regardsTinaTina Dunkin | Head of Customer Relations and Libraries2nd Floor, Hounslow HouseLondon Borough of HounslowOffice: 020 8583 3749www.hounslow.gov.ukFollow us online: Twitter: @LBofHounslow and Facebook: www.facebook.com/HounslowCouncilFor information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notice Customer services: privacy notice | Privacy noticeFrom: vanessa smithSent: 17 February 2021 11:43To: Tina DunkinCc: Councillor Samia Chaudhary ; Councillor Steve Curran ; Councillor Salman ShaheenSubject: Re: Library service MEM011430Dear Tina,Thank-you for the response. However, what this is, is a public relations blurb and not an answer to the question I asked. Namely, if Richmond council, and others, have provided a click and collect service almost throughout the pandemic why has Hounslow not been able - or willing - to do the same? When Isleworth library did open for a few days in December that is exactly what was happening - then the plug was pulled with no explanation - why?Best Wishes,Vanessa SmithSent from OutlookFrom: Tina DunkinSent: 17 February 2021 09:13To: vanessa smithCc: Councillor Samia Chaudhary ; Councillor Steve Curran ; Councillor Salman ShaheenSubject: RE: Library service MEM011430Dear Ms Smith.Thank you for your email about the Library service. This has been recorded as a Members Enquiry under reference number MEM011430.The libraries closed on 20th March 2020 following government guidelines during the first lockdown. However we continued to offer the Library at Home service and the School Library Service. During this time, the libraries also underwent an extensive investment programme in the buildings. We gradually reopened the Libraries when the refurbishment work had been completed, risk assessments had been carried out and approved by Health and Safety and we could reopen safely for our staff and customers.The Libraries reopened as follows:8th July 2020 - Heston Library and Feltham Library reopened13th July 2020 – Chiswick Library reopened27th July 2020 – Osterley Library reopened3rd August 2020 – Cranford Library and Beavers Library reopened10th August 2020 – Prison Library Service reopened7th September 2020 – Bedfont Library reopened7th September 2020 – Local Studies reopened in Chiswick and Feltham Libraries21st September 2020 – Adult Education started to deliver classes in Heston and Feltham Libraries19th October 2020 – Brentford Library reopened part of the service and extended this service further on 19th  October.10th December 2020 – Isleworth Library reopened following a transfer of the management of Leisure Centres and roof repairs due to leaksOn the 1st July, we joined The Library Consortium (TLC) which gives extended access to online resources such as Ebooks, E audio, Online courses and Magazines. The Consortium also gives members access to all the stock in the participating boroughs and the number of members  in the consortium are  growing each year.Since reopening the Libraries we have followed government and local guidelines to adjust the service offered to ensure our customers and staff are safe. We were always very keen to reopen Libraries as soon as we could once the refurbishment work was completed and when safe to do so as we offer an important service to our community. We were pleased to be able to continue some of our services such as the School Library service and the Library at Home service safely throughout the lockdowns.We will reopen our Libraries as soon as we can do so safely. In the meantime our Library staff have been helping the most vulnerable in our borough by supporting the Council’s Community Hub offering support to our residents.Kind regardsTina DunkinTina Dunkin | Head of Customer Relations and Libraries2nd Floor, Hounslow HouseLondon Borough of HounslowOffice: 020 8583 3749www.hounslow.gov.ukFollow us online: Twitter: @LBofHounslow and Facebook: www.facebook.com/HounslowCouncilFor information about what we do with personal data see our privacy notice Customer services: privacy notice | Privacy noticeFrom: vanessa smithSent: Friday, February 12, 2021 2:11:02 PMTo: Councillor Samia ChaudharyCc: Councillor Steve Curran ; Councillor Salman ShaheenSubject: Library serviceDear Samia,Is it possible for you to explain to me exactly why the libraries have been shut for nearly a year - apart from a few days in December? I ask this because Richmond council have managed - apart from a couple of weeks - to provide a click and collect service throughout the pandemic, so it begs the question of why Hounslow is unable to do the same. There was a tentative attempt at this before the second lockdown and since then - nothing.I appreciate that there has also been a change of provider as well as the problems of Covid however, other local authorities seem to have been able to offer some sort of service - albeit a limited one. Is it the intention of Hounslow to keep the library service in limbo until further notice from the government as to the possibility of easing lockdown?I would appreciate some information as to when this situation is going to be addressed.I look forward to your response,Yours sincerely,Vanessa Smith

Vanessa Smith ● 1158d

Just an add-on to say I like the way I managed to make a typo following my comment about literacy!

Alison Smith ● 1158d