Library Service During the month of July 8 of the 9 branches welcomed the public back into the buildings for a reduced service of borrow and return only. Blarney remained at call and collect due to its size and the necessity for a 2m social distance between individuals (Douglas pop up remained closed also due to its size. Staff there are purchasing and processing items for the reopening in November.) Furniture was removed from all libraries so the public could not sit and read and public PCs, printers, photocopiers and newspapers were not offered as services. Priority queuing was offered to older and vulnerable people between 10 am and 11 am and many visitors wore masks. 26,098 people visited Cork City Libraries during the month as compared to 75,984 in the July 2019. Factors for this decrease include the reduced service offered; the Reference Library and Local Studies Library remaining closed and Blarney Library continuing the call and collect service. The reduced visits also reflects the use of the libraries for so many services other than borrowing and returning books such as for study spaces, cultural events, exhibitions and the use of public PCs, printing and photocopying all of which were suspended during this month. The issue of public confidence in visiting public spaces during this pandemic also cannot be overlooked. However, membership of Cork City Libraries increased again by 1,203 from 34,059 for year ending 31 July 2019 to 35,262 in year ending July 2020 as many people continue to join online. 24,200 items were borrowed, and 26,369 items returned. Borrowing of eBooks and eAudio books continues to be very popular proving to be a very important aspect of the library service during Covid-19. 9,362 items were borrowed online, more than double those of July 2019 (4,545)
National Play Day at The City Library, July 4
Street games on Tuckey Street with The City Library
As with all other events this year restrictions due to Covid-19 meant we were unable to hold any official event inside the libraries. Instead Cork City Libraries linked with Cork’s Playful Paradigm to celebrate National Play Day on Saturday 4 th July and partnering with Cork Sports Partnership and Cork Healthy Cities, we took to the streets on the Grand Parade and Tuckey Street.
The National Play Day grant and Ballyphehane Togher CDP ’s contribution through the Playful Paradigm group allowed us to fund 219 of the Playful Paradigm’s Let’s Play Cork packs and an extra 780 Let’s Play Cork booklets. These were available free of charge to people who visited any branch of Cork City Libraries on the day. The play packs contain resources that encourage children and their families to explore free play in their own time at home. We also handed out small jigsaws of Red our Children’s Library Mascot. Cork Sports Partnership funded local artist Hazel Hurley to create chalk games on the street outside Grand Parade Library in order to encourage people to take part in free play as they passed by. They also funded Arran Towers, of Tallest Smallest Circus to be present on the day to create an atmosphere on the street and engage people as they passed, letting them know that they could call in to the Children’s Library to collect their Let’s Play pack and register for the Summer Reading Challenge. It was an amazing day!
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