At a recent Zoom meeting, Bruce Leeke, Suffolk Libraries CEO, and some of his team outlined some key points:

1. Work going on during lockdown

• The service has been moving to a ‘remote model’, for example 
• delivering livestream services through Facebook
• providing a ‘lifeline’ telephone service: members of the library service have been supporting vulnerable people making nearly 6,000 calls over 8 weeks. This has been highly values and will continue
• creating a ’service of layers’ to meet people’s needs (see p2 of Making Life Better - attachment below)
• Things have been done differently e.g.
• there have been a lot of online meetings across the county including over 2,000 each of craft, Lego and Wordplay (https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/events-activities/children/pre-school-children/)
• digital services have expanded: for example, many more people are now using the Pressreader service (https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/elibrary/pressreader/)
• the elibrary service has been used by many more users (https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/elibrary/).

2. Impact on Volunteering

• The Summer Reading Challenge will happen online this year.  Around 480 volunteers had said they would help this year (we certainly have people who are in this number); however, it will not be possible to run this ‘in-library’
• All libraries will need to be safe with appropriate PPE before volunteers can come in.  We, as the Friends of Thurston Library,  certainly will not be meeting as a ‘physical group'; would you like to meet on Zoom?
• The Home Library Service has been suspended amidst concerns about safety.

3. Reopening of Libraries

• It is really important staff feel safe and are pleased to return
• In the week of 6 July most libraries will open and have a ‘select and collect service’ - details to follow
• [From the June Newsletter - attachment below] “Customers should be aware that services in library buildings will look a little different for the foreseeable future with the following measures:
• Libraries will initially be offering a limited selection of stock.
• The reservation service will not be reintroduced immediately, starting with a ‘Select and collect’ service where customers can ask staff to prepare a small selection of books based on a genre or author of interest.
• Events in libraries will remain suspended for now but people can still enjoy the hundreds of activities which library staff are streaming and sharing online."
• there is a full statement about the above at https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/news/libraries-to-reopen-from-early-july/
• There will be a public awareness campaign towards the end of June about reopening, including direct communication with every home in Suffolk
• A new website is being developed.

4. Volunteering Awards 2020

• There will not be an Awards evening as before; discussion is taking place about the possible Awards for this year.