Derby Libraries COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information

Tue 27 Jul 2021

Derby Libraries are pleased to welcome customers back into libraries, and from Thu 27 Jul, library stock will no longer require quarantining. Our staff will continue to wear face coverings and we would encourage our customers to do so too if they are able, to help protect others. Customers will be asked to check-in for NHS Test and Trace purposes on arrival. and maintain social distancing. By following this guidance you can continue to Do the Right Thing for Derby and look after yourselves and others. 

Public PCs will continue to be available on a self-service basis for sessions of up to 60 minutes per customer per day. You will no longer need to book a PC but please be aware that, to comply with Covid safety regulations, the number of PCs available will be limited and staff assistance will not be available.  Extra PC sessions are available for job seekers to book. We will keep this under review and extend this service when it is safe and practical to do so. ibrary events and activities will not resume until further notice.

Derby Local Studies and Family History Library is offering pre-bookable appointments for either PC/microfilm use or to look at paper documents. The free online enquiry service that has been operating since last July will be wound down as the service refocuses on helping customers visiting the library.

Each appointment is for a maximum stay of two hours. You can book up to three appointments, up to 1 month in advance of your visit. Book an appointment by emailing the local studies library or call 01332 642240 or text 07584 268351.

The Home Library Service will continue to deliver books to people who cannot get to the library by themselves because of illness, infirmity or disability.   

24 Jun 2021

Derby Libraries is delighted to announce that we are extending our opening hours at Alvaston, Mickleover, Normanton and Riverside Libraries from Monday 28 June 2021. Alvaston, Mickleover, and Normanton Libraries will now open until 6pm once a week and open on Saturday mornings. Riverside will open from 9am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Derby Local Studies and Family History Library will soon be welcoming customers back into the library. Customers will be able to visit by pre-booking an appointment for either PC/microfilm use or to look at paper documents. The free online enquiry service that has been operating since last July will be wound down as the service refocuses on helping customers visiting the library.

The local studies team are working hard to put everything in place and hope to be able to open the doors in early July, with the date to be confirmed very soon. Please keep an eye on the website for updates and more detail on appointment slots and how to book.

10 May 2021

Derby Libraries is committed to digitally supporting our communities and helping people who are looking to get back into work, so we are pleased to announce that Alvaston, Normanton and Riverside libraries will be offering extra computer sessions for jobseekers from 10 May 2021.

This is a vital service for people who do not have access to the internet, and we are pleased to offer free printing during these sessions. Each session will be an hour in length, and must be booked in advance by phoning the library. Visit the Support for Jobseekers page for full details and times. 

8 Apr 2021

Derby Libraries are pleased to be able to welcome customers back into libraries for browsing from Mon 19 Apr. We are currently putting the final preparations in place to enable as much use of library facilities as is safe and practical at this time. 

Alvaston, Riverside and Normanton libraries will open their doors for browsing and borrowing from Mon 19 Apr and Mickleover from Tues 20 Apr. Our Click and Collect service will end on these dates but collections of books ordered before reopening can still be made.

Public PCs will be available on a self-service basis and you can enjoy sessions of up to 60 minutes per customer per day. You will no longer need to book a PC but please be aware that, to comply with Covid safety regulations, the number of PCs available will be limited and staff assistance will not be available. We will keep this under review and extend this service when it is safe and practical to do so.

A printing service will be available at all sites. Fines were re-instated in Sep 2020. The hold charge will be re-instated on Mon 19 Apr. All fines and charges must be paid by card.

Derby Local Studies Library will continue to operate an email, text and telephone enquiry service. We are aiming for customers to be able to visit the Local Studies Library in person later in June.

The Home Library Service will continue to deliver books to people who cannot get to the library by themselves because of illness, infirmity or disability.

The majority of our events and activities will resume later in the year. However, online coding courses and our Facebook Reading Group are currently running, and a series of online Rhymetimes is available on our website. For more information visit www.inderby.org.uk/libraries

To comply with current Covid safety regulations, customer numbers will be limited and you will be asked to supply your details for NHS Test and Trace. Adults should visit the library alone if possible and we encourage parents/carers/another responsible person to accompany their children. Social distancing will remain in place, face coverings will need to be worn unless exempt and books will continue to be quarantined on their return.

Services planned to resume later this year

• Events and activities
• Hire of meeting rooms
• Provision of study space

Thu 14 Jan 2021

Normanton Library will re-open on Monday 18 January 2021 for Click and Collect and PC access for essential tasks. 

6 Jan 2021

The Home Library Service is resuming from Wed 6 January.

Following a review of the service, we are pleased to announce that Riverside, Mickleover, and Alvaston libraries are again offering public computer access and Wifi from 7 January (Normanton Library is currently closed due to a fault with the heating system).

This is a vital service for people who do not have access to the internet so we are prioritising sessions for people who need to complete benefit claim forms, job applications, homework, and other essential tasks. Please do not book computers or Wifi for social media, games or watching videos.

5 Jan 2021

Riverside, Mickleover, and Alvaston Libraries are currently open for Click and Collect only.

The e-book service is available – look at our catalogue to make your choice.

The Home Library Service and Public internet access services are under review.

Derby Local Studies and Family History Library is currently closed to members of the public but is taking enquiries by phone, text and email. 

You can renew your books online or phone 01332 641700

Normanton Library is currently closed due to heating problems.

Previous updates

Mon 30 Nov 2020

Derby Libraries is committed to digitally supporting and connecting our communities so we are pleased to announce that Alvaston, Mickleover, Normanton and Riverside libraries will be offering public computer access and Wifi from Thursday 26 November 2020. 

This is a vital service for people who do not have access to the internet so we are prioritising sessions for people who need to complete benefit claim forms, job applications, homework, and other essential tasks. Please do not book computers or Wifi for social media, games or watching videos.

At all four libraries, the current click and collect arrangements for borrowing and returning books and other items will continue when Derby moves into Tier 3 on 2 Dec.

6 Nov 2020

New national government restrictions due to COVID-19 mean temporary changes to services at Derby Libraries. 

Some services are continuing, including those which offer support to members of our community at this uncertain time. 

Although Riverside, Mickleover, Alvaston and Normanton Libraries will not be open for browsing shelves, they are all running a click and collect service for borrowing and returning books and other items. Members can choose and reserve items, and arrange collection, by accessing the online library catalogue. 

In the coming days Riverside, Mickleover, Alvaston and Normanton Libraries will be opening for the public use of PCs only. Exactly when this service will become available will be announced soon. This will be a limited service and users will need to book in advance by calling or emailing the library. Contact details for all libraries are listed below. 

The Home Library Service will continue to operate, delivering and collecting pre-ordered books from Care Homes and vulnerable people living at home. 

Derby Local Studies and Family History Library is currently closed to members of the public but will continue to take enquiries by phone, text and email. 

The spring lockdown saw a surge in the number of people joining Derby’s eLibrary. All library members can borrow eBooks and Audiobooks, and read electronic newspapers and magazines for free using apps that you can download to your device. Customers can join the library online to get access to these great services. 

Contact details for Derby Libraries: 

Alvaston Library: Tel 01332 718140. Email alvaston.library@derby.gov.uk 

Mickleover Library: Tel 01332 718926. Email mickleover.library@derby.gov.uk 

Normanton Library: Tel 01332 642640. Email normanton.library@derby.gov.uk 

Riverside Library: Tel 01332 641702. Email riverside.library@derby.gov.uk 

Local Studies and Family History Library: Tel 01332 642240. Email localstudies.library@derby.gov.uk. Text 07584 268351 

Home Library Service: Tel 01332 640617. Minicom 01332 640666 

8 Aug 2020

The final preparations are being made to welcome members back to Derby Libraries. A phased re-opening of our sites will take place over the next month, allowing as much use of library facilities as is safe and practical at this time.

While we are very much looking forward to seeing our members again, inevitably there will be changes to the services available, and opening hours. The safety of our customers and staff is our priority.

For full details and updates, please visit our Welcome back to Derby Libraries page here. 

24 Jun 2020

Derby Libraries are closed and we are working hard to reopen as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming you back. Any announcements about reopening will be made here and on social media. In the meantime the eBook library is available.

20 Mar 2020

In response to the Government’s latest guidance concerning the COVID-19 virus, and in the best interests of our visitors and staff, Derby Libraries will be closing their doors temporarily after business hours on Saturday 21 March. This will be for at least four weeks.

This means Derby City Council’s libraries at Mickleover, Normanton and Alvaston, as well as the Local Studies Library and Riverside Library, will be closed to the public. 

The city’s Community Managed Libraries at Allestree, Allenton, Blagreaves, Chellaston, Derwent, Mackworth, Chaddesden Park, Sinfin, Spondon and Springwood, which are not run by Derby City Council, have already temporarily closed to the public.

All items are being issued with a return date in June. Items already out on loan have already had their return date extended, although customers may not be aware of this. Members can continue to renew their loans online here. Unfortunately, we will not be able to issue reserved books at this time.

It is a difficult time for all of us, but we would urge library members to make use of our electronic services while they are unable to visit us in person.

eBooks, eAudioBooks, and eMagazines can be accessed by downloading two apps onto your device or smart phone. You will need to have to hand your library card and the personal identification number (PIN) you were given when you joined.

The Borrowbox app allows you to borrow eBooks and eAudioBooks for free. The RBDigital app gives access to eMagazines for free. Once you have downloaded magazines you can keep them for ever, and you can download as many as you like. More information about the electronic services and how to get started can be found here.

Derby Libraries’ eReference library provides access to online resources such as news, general knowledge, academic research, links to websites to help with school homework, provide ideas about new books to read, and much more. 

We wish all our members well and look forward to welcoming them back as soon as we can.

Derby City Council Coronavirus information and advice 

Find out how coronavirus is impacting Council services and facilities.

Check out the latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19).