Coronavirus: Northern Beaches Council starts door-to-door library book deliveries during crisis

Northern Beaches Council is helping book lovers stuck at home because of the coronavirus crisis by starting a library delivery service.

Librarian Holly Auld, left, helping load the van with driver John Farrell for Northern Beaches Council's new Library2U service. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

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Avid readers worried about how they are going to get hold of their next book with coronavirus “stay at home” measures in place are in luck.

From Monday, April 6, library members can have their favourite books, magazines and DVDs delivered direct to their front door.

And as part of Northern Beaches Council’s extended Library2U service, open to all northern beaches residents, the books are picked up four weeks later.

Northern Beaches Council employee John Farrell gets books ready for the council's new Library2U book delivery and pick-up service. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

In line with government health advice and to maintain public health, all libraries are closed until further notice.

To help further protect the health and safety of the community, Library2U replaces the highly successful Click and Collect service.

Resident library members can either choose their own items online or staff can select items on

their behalf.

The items will be delivered to residents at an agreed delivery time and a council courier will collect them again in four weeks’ time.

Mayor Michael Regan said with the restrictions in place, the council was constantly looking at innovative ways to serve the community.

All public libraries on the northern beaches are closed indefinitely, but you can return books borrowed through Library2U via the library returned book chutes, which are cleaned and emptied regularly. Picture: News Corp

“I would like to thank our staff for coming up with new ways to provide services to our community during the current situation,” Cr Regan said.

“With so many of us working from home, kids home from school and regulations requiring us to stay indoors as much as possible, the Library2U service will be invaluable to many of our residents.

“Essentially all you do now is click what you want online and we deliver it to your door, it is that easy.”

Library members can also go online for free access to an extensive collection of eBooks,

eAudiobooks, eMagazines and movies.

Return chutes at all Council’s six libraries remain open at all times for anyone wanting to return. The chutes are cleaned and emptied regularly.

Go to www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au for more information.