Alfreton Library

Spotlight on Alfreton Library and everything it offers our community

Posted by: Laura Hammond

Wed 17th August 2022

Libraries have long been at the heart of local communities, and the one here in Alfreton is no different.

Located on the edge of Severn Square, Alfreton Library has so much to offer – and you don’t have to be a member to enjoy it.

Charlie Donaldson, assistant-in-charge, said: “You don’t have to be a member to come in and use the building. We have free wi-fi that you can connect to, you’re welcome to bring your own laptop to sit and work in here.

“You can read any of the books while you’re in the building without needing to have a library card. It’s only if you want to use one of our computers for one hour or take a book home that you need a library card.”

That means you can browse and read any of the hundreds of books housed in the library and use a computer for up to 10 minutes without being a member.

You can also attend events – such as the weekly Story and Rhyme Time event for under fives during term time or next week’s Fantastic Flying Machine’s craft session  – without being a member.

However, if you would like to join Alfreton Library, it is quick and easy to do. All you need is a form of identification with your name and address on such as a driving licence or utility bill.

To sign a child up to the library, staff need to see a copy of the parent or guardian’s identification.

“It’s free to do,” said Charlie. “There’s no cost to join the library. There’s no cost to borrow books. There’s a small fee to borrow audio books in the library, which is 40p or 65p for adults. It’s free for children.

“It’s not just the books we have here at Alfreton Library. We run a request service. If there’s a specific book you’re interested in and we have it at another library in the county, we can order it in for you. It’s free for children, 50p or 80p for adults.

“You can borrow up to 24 items a time and you get them for three weeks. You have access to items from this library and other ones across the county. You can also use our online services – free access to online audio books, magazines and newspapers.”

Alfreton Library has eight long stay computers – which you can use for up to an hour – and one that you can use for 10 minutes.

But it’s not just computer access that’s on offer. A librarian is on hand to help people with advice on using computers and, in the coming weeks, a volunteer will be at the library every Tuesday morning to talk to people about PC use.

The library is also preparing to offer a children’s craft session on a monthly basis, in addition to its weekly Story and Rhyme Time group.

The details are yet to be confirmed but Charlie hopes the events will bring more people into the library.

For anybody who is planning to visit the library, there’s something Charlie would like to clear up: “I think of the misconceptions is that you have to be silent in the library – that’s not what we’re about any more. We want people – particularly children – to enjoy being in here. We just asked people to respect what’s around them.”

Alfreton Library is run by Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of the council and cabinet member for strategic leadership, culture, tourism and climate change, said: “We are committed to our library service and are very proud of the many benefits their services give to local communities.

“There is always something going on at a library and we’d encourage people to go and see for themselves what’s on offer if they haven’t before.”

Alfreton Library is is open 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am until 7pm on Fridays and 9.30am until 4pm on Saturdays.

For more information, call 01629 531 481, email alfreton.library@derbyshire.gov.uk or visit the Derbyshire Libraries website here.

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