The RVS Home Library Service is available here!
The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), in partnership with Somerset Libraries, offers a personalized Home Library Service entirely free of charge. This service is available to anyone of any age who cannot easily get to the library.
The Home Library Service is available to anyone in the county of Somerset and your local libraries in Wincanton, Bruton and Castle Cary are keen to reach out to more individuals either in their own home, sheltered accommodation or residential homes.
At present I am the sole Home Library Service Volunteer based at Wincanton Library. The RVS is keen to add more volunteers so that we can grow beyond our current subscribers in the surrounding villages of Wincanton.
My clients receive a personalized service and we agree together how often they wish me to visit and at what time, and how many books they would like. They typically ask me to call every four weeks but this is flexible. During these visits I deliver books, talking books, large print and even DVDs, collect returns and discuss what sort of books they would like next.
With the assistance of the Library I keep a secure record of our clients’ book choices, itemising titles and authors they have selected over the last three years. This is useful when choosing books for them to ensure nothing is duplicated and the genre is suitable. If I have any queries I know the staff at Wincanton Library will always help me.
During each visit we discuss and update their preferences as necessary. We establish the type of book that the subscriber likes; fiction or non-fiction, normal or large print, soft or hardback. Then they choose genres; western, romance, thriller, real life experience, military, or war. We are keen to ensure that individuals who enjoy reading get books they will appreciate.
At least two weeks before delivery the books are carefully chosen at your local library, or online through the Libraries West website which has a huge selection. In some cases it's necessary to research suitable titles and a list is compiled from which clients can make their choices for the next visit.
The day of delivery of the books is a flexible appointment made between the volunteer and the subscriber. At the end of visit the volunteer collects returned books and checks the next visit date.
This service is entirely FREE and Home Library Service subscribers can make full use of the Somerset Library Service. To become a Home Library Service member or for additional information, please contact me (Pam Golding), the RVS or your local library (Wincanton Library, Carrington Way).
Somerset Library Service 0300 1232224 Royal Voluntary Services (Somerset) 07920 250834 Royal Voluntary Services (local coordinator) 07730 494547 (Pam Golding)
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