‘Get connected’ for National Libraries Day

Devon County Council is encouraging residents to ‘get connected’ with their local library next week as part of National Libraries Day (Saturday 7 February).

Libraries across Devon will be asking their users to provide their email address and mobile phone number so they can get in touch with information about their loans more easily and keep them up to date with news, as well as save the council money.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service, explains:

“We currently spend around £6,000 on postage every year, sending people reminders when their books are due back and information about overdue charges on their account, so being able contact people electronically would help us make a valuable saving at a time when budgets are at their tightest.

“We also want to improve the way we keep our customers up to date about what is going on their local library, so by giving us your email address you will be able to receive our new e-newsletter full of information about events, suggestions of what to read next, money off vouchers and lots more.”

Throughout February libraries will also be encouraging customers to take advantage of the digital services they offer, for example browsing the catalogue and reserving or renewing books online and borrowing e-books, as well as using their computers, accessing their online resources such as Ancestry to trace your family tree, logging on to their free wifi or connecting with them on Twitter or Facebook.