STAYING connected during the pandemic has been hard for some and accessing books and other media to fill the hours of isolation has for some been challenging.

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Mitzi Dewhurst of Tomaree and Raymond Terrace Libraries told News Of The Area, “Port Stephens Libraries are offering Call and Collect services as an option for members who do not want to spend a long period visiting the library.

“We would like to encourage members to use these services particularly if they are homebound or isolating.

“All they need to do is give us a call, let us know what they like including books, DVDs and audios and we will get it ready for them to pick up at a time that suits!

We can even arrange home delivery if required,” she said.

Membership to Port Stephens libraries is free.

Members also have opportunities to access eresources such as ebooks, emagazines, efilm, emusic and enewspapers as well as our collections of audio, books, DVDs and magazines. These services are all online and can be accessed from home with your library card and password.

Technology now allows libraries to deliver online events and author talks are a providing new opportunities for us and our members to access online.

Library staff have been recording online story times, Read and Rhyme sessions and online learning tutorials that can be viewed on our Facebook page or Youtube. Raymond Terrace Library have also scheduled an online event Stand Up for Poetry Slam open mic showcase on 14th August.

You can also hear from local author Joanna Atherfold Finn and West Australian Rebecca Prince-Ruiz for a discussion about the plastic free movement and their book on 20th August. Online registration is required to join these events.

Joanna Atherfold Finn said, “I’m really looking forward to chatting to a local audience about some of the amazing stories from people around the world taking on the Plastic Free July challenge and also the process of co-authoring the book with the movement’s founder.”

Tomaree, Raymond Terrace and the Mobile Library are now open.

The current hours of operation may vary, patrons are requested to contact the Library for further details you can call Tomaree Library on 49880670 and Raymond Terrace Library on 49880111.

By Marian SAMPSON