High Life Highland's online library resources enjoy booming use from residents in Ross-shire and the rest of the Highlands during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown
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HIGH Life Highland (HLH) libraries have been given top marks by members and non-members alike as they turn to the charity’s online resources.
They are using the facility to help provide extra support for health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The resources include online Bookbug sessions, e-books, audio-books and an online newspaper service.
Library services users have quickly adapted to take advantage of the services on offer.
Bookbug is a national programme for sharing stories, songs and rhymes for young people which is delivered through local libraries and has seen the number of views of sessions rise to 6500 last month from just under 2000 in March.
Pressreader, the online newspaper service, has more than doubled the number of views in April in comparison with the same month last year – an increase of 30,000 views.
The number of uses of e-books through the HLH Library service has also seen numbers double compared last year.
HLH library's range of online resources is available to all members – anyone new to the service can register online to view these services right away.
Parent Davina Seaton summed it up when she said: “As you imagine this has been a very difficult time trying to provide home school and nursery for a three-year-old and a five-year-old who are at different stages of learning.
"The Bookbug sessions online help to bridge that gap for a short time and provide relief and enjoyment for all of us in our household, as we try to watch them as a family.
"Both my children benefit as they are learning whilst having fun and the burden of teaching is lifted from myself. Thank you for helping to bring these vital services to the Highlands during this difficult, stressful and often scary times.”
Julie Corcoran, principal libraries manager, High Life Highland, said: “Its great to hear that so many people are using and benefitting from our online library services at the moment.
"By using online channels, we’ve been able to keep many of our services available for people in Highland communities during this unprecedented period. We’ll keep adapting the range of resources available, as new options become available.”
For details of all activities, with links to the resources, visit here.
