WELLINGTON residents are being given a winter reminder of the benefits of Somerset Council’s home library service.

The free service is run by the council with the support of a team of willing volunteers. It delivers books to people who are unable to get to their local library, such as those who are housebound, living in long term care, carers, or people who are vulnerable due to long term conditions or disabilities.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, executive lead member for communities, said: “This is a brilliant service. Reading books can help keep your mind engaged as you grow old, helping to improve memory and reducing stress.

“The home library service plays a really valuable role in bringing the library to your front room for so many people, taking them on journeys from the comfort of their armchair to whole new worlds and meeting new characters.”

Open to all ages, Somerset’s home library service offers a wide range of services alongside its extensive collection fiction and non-fiction books in different formats including, regular print, large print and audio books.

It also has an extensive collection of digital resources available to borrow including, e-books, e-audio, e-magazine and e-newspapers. There’s a loan offer for iPads to support residents in accessing online resources including the library app Borrowbox.

Customers are matched up with a volunteer - fully trained and DBS checked - who will visit regularly at a suitable time. The volunteer will spend time understanding the customer’s reading preferences so that they can select the right books. They choose and order these books and deliver them at a convenient time.

Alongside the council’s home library service, residents can also utilise the library services in person at the newly renovated Wellington site, as well as the online Libraries West website to find, reserve or renew a library item.

After a £900,000 refurbishment by the local authority, the Wellington Library recently reopened at its former Fore Street location in September.

Somerset County Council allocated funding in February 2022 to upgrade the library after efforts to relocate the amenity to a new, more modern site had come to nothing.

The county council undertook numerous improvements including improved accessibility, the introduction of new and larger spaces, and increased thermal efficiency to the Grade-II listed building, which has been in use as a library since 1969.

A new interactive projector has been installed which offers benefits to a range of people, including speech instruction sessions and activities for dementia patients.

As part of a Somerset Council project, the library will also be taking part in a coat exchange, a project to provide warm coats to children who might not otherwise have access to one.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, culture, equalities and diversity, said: “We’re thrilled to have Wellington Library back in Fore Street.

“The upgraded premises will serve as a vibrant hub for both the local community and visitors.”

For more information about the Home Library Service, email [email protected] or visit Home Library Service (somerset.gov.uk).