Dear Member,
We hope that you continue to be safe and in good health at what continues to be a complicated and challenging time for all of us.
We wanted to update you on the current position in relation to reopening the Library and the next steps we will be taking to prepare for that. The first thing to say is that, subject to being given the green light from the Government, we are working towards the Library opening around Monday 6th July. I should stress that this is necessarily a provisional date and may be delayed if the pandemic worsens. Opening the Library will also be subject to our putting various measures in place to ensure that the welfare of staff and Members is not compromised in any way.
As soon as it is confirmed when the Library is able to open we will let you know the date and how we will operate over the next few months, including any revision to opening hours and operational days and other measures we will be taking, for example limiting numbers, to ensure that we provide a high quality service to Members. In developing our plans, we will take full account of responses to the recent Member Survey. Over 250 Members – a quarter of our membership – responded to the survey and this has been very helpful in enabling us to understand and focus on the key concerns of Members in terms of both preparing for the reopening of the Library and improving the way we communicate with you over the weeks and months ahead.
Currently seven of the staff team are furloughed but as soon as we have a confirmed reopening date we will start to bring them back into work so that they can prepare the Library for reopening and ensure that we are fully compliant with guidance on, for example, social distancing.
Whilst the Library has been closed, we have continued to deliver a number of activities for our Members which have included in recent weeks an online quiz night, poetry events and our Book Club all of which have been warmly received. These are continuing so please check our events page for the latest dates. The postal loan service, community forum and eBook Library remain popular and we anticipate that these and other activities will continue to be delivered after the Library has reopened so that we provide support to those Members who are unable or unwilling to risk travelling to the Library.
We hope this gives you a sense that we are now working up plans for our reopening and that in the not too distant future you will be able to return to the calm surroundings of the Library. If you have any queries or questions regarding anything to do with the Library please contact us either via email at enquiries@theleedslibrary.org.uk, via the phone at 0113 245 3071 or through our various social media channels. Even though we have just a small team of 4 working at the moment, we will endeavour to respond to you as quickly as possible.
With very best wishes from all at the Library,
Carl Hutton
CEO
