Your local library is so much more than just a building. Lucy Callington caught up with Library at Home Area Volunteer Coordinator, Lindsay Healy, to hear how the home visit service delivers much more than just books.
Did you know that if you, or someone you know has difficulty accessing the library for any reason – whether due to disability, illness or caring responsibilities – there’s a willing team of volunteers ready and waiting to visit you at home, bring books, stay for a chat and cuppa, offer book recommendations and even listen to your life story?
I catch up with Lindsay who coordinates the Library at Home service for Histon and Impington, and Vivian, one of the fleet of amazing volunteers who tell me, it’s not only the readers that benefit from the service. “It’s very rewarding being part of this scheme”, says Vivian. “We’re not just a Deliveroo for books! It’s more like a book club where we can chat about a particular title, or about anything at all really”.
Open to all
Library at Home has been running for around 10 years and, although there have been similar book deliveries in place for 30-or-so years, the modern scheme is super accessible. There’s no charge for the visits (no fines to pay for overdue books or reservation charges) and you can take your pick from the library’s full catalogue and read as many or as few books as you wish.
Volunteer coordinator Lindsay is responsible for playing ‘matchmaker’ between volunteers and readers. She shares: “There are no age limits for the scheme. It is mostly older people we visit, but there are lots of other reasons why people may appreciate books at home.
“Our volunteers are all patient, reliable, enthusiastic and of course share a love of reading and books” she continues.
There are currently 105 volunteers ‘on the books’ who visit 180 readers. Volunteers must be DBS checked and are given training before being allocated one, two or three readers to visit.
Readers that may benefit from the service are often referred through charities such as Age UK, although anyone can go on the library website and refer someone they think would benefit.
Escape with a book
Lindsay is enthusiastic about what the service can provide. She says: “Often people are in pain or discomfort or have stress in their lives. Reading and talking about books helps them to feel something beyond that”.
She continues: “Our volunteers engage with the person they are, rather than just their difficulties”.
How often a volunteer visits their reader is flexible and can be decided between them. It’s also dependent on how quickly the reader can finish a book and how much time a volunteer has to browse the library and come up with recommendations.
“We have started doing some training for new volunteers, alongside existing ones in the library itself”, explains Lindsay. “It’s a chance for new people to chat to those who have been involved in the scheme for a while – to share their experiences and recommendations”.
The training is designed to be fun and involves creating an imaginary reader for the volunteers to choose books for, as well as making use of the librarians’ vast knowledge of the library catalogue.
Vivian’s story
Long term scheme volunteer, Vivian shares her experiences as a helper with Library at Home.
I visit an older lady who lives in sheltered accommodation. She has a few health issues and wasn’t sure she had the energy to read much, so at first she wanted me to just bring one book at a time.
She told me she was quite stuck in her ways and only liked classic literature such as Jane Eyre, so, at first, I only brought her the classics. Then I thought I would throw in some curve balls, as she might enjoy reading them. It’s been brilliant. She is now reading all sorts of titles and one of her favourite books is The Salt Path.
I visit her once a month and now I bring four books at a time. Sometimes I’m the only visitor she will see that day or week, so the visits can really lift her up – and me too, as we’ve got to know each other well. She is 90 years old and we have a laugh together, so it really is a two-way street. It also encourages me to read more so that I can give better recommendations.
For my reader, the level of noise in the lounge of her accommodation can be difficult, so she ends up spending a lot of time in her room, where she can withdraw with a book and enjoy a quiet moment.
It’s always best if the readers are completely honest about their likes and dislikes, so that the volunteer can really tailor what titles they bring each week.
I recommended The Remains of the Day and at first she was quite sceptical about it, but now it has become her favourite book and the gold standard against which all other books are measured!
But more than anything, I just enjoy my reader’s company. She has had the most fascinating life and can fix anything! Her husband died quite young, so she has raised four kids while working and being so skilled at fixing things. I’m in total awe of her!
I’ve also recently started visiting a gentleman too. His preference is for factual non-fiction, but he has poor eyesight and needs large print. I’m going to try and take out some eBooks to try with him to make them more accessible – so it’s great I can provide that service for him.
For more details about Library at Home visit here where you can find a volunteer application form as well as a reader referral form.
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