Fraser Coast Libraries launch new online activities and service

The Fraser Coast community can access new online activities and services from home for free via their Council library service.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said staff had been filming storytelling sessions and talks, demonstrating craft activities, issuing Lego challenges and more online.

“While library branches are temporarily closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, we still want to maintain and build on the community connections we’ve already formed,” he said.

“We’re aiming to provide ongoing engagement, entertainment and learning while people are spending greater amounts of time at home.”

Cr Seymour said personalised computer help sessions were also available by phone at certain times during the week.

“These sessions will replace the DigiLearn sessions for people working their way through popular Be Connected courses, which are designed to help people become more confident online, and short DigiHelp troubleshooting chats,” he said.

Cr Seymour said members would also be able to read thousands of newspapers and magazines from around the country and throughout the world online with the introduction of PressReader as a Fraser Coast Libraries resource.

“The digital newsstand is a great addition to our existing fantastic range of free online services including ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines, online movies and elearning courses,” he said.

“The libraries have also just introduced ecomics which members can also access for free.

"Popular series such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, Avengers and X-Men are among the hundreds of titles to choose from.

“We’re encouraging new members to join online for immediate access to our digital services.”

Cr Seymour said almost 30,000 physical items were borrowed in a busy four days before the temporary closure of the region’s five branches on March 21.

“Almost 93% per cent of our Quick Reads – that’s recently released fiction – went out on loan,” he said.

“Nearly half of our videos were borrowed, along with about 43 per cent of our jigsaw puzzles and about 40 per cent of our large print, children’s beginner readers and picture books.

“We’re thankful that the doubling of our borrowing limit to 60 items allowed people to stock up ahead of our temporary closure.  Items are being renewed automatically until further notice.”

Cr Seymour said new users were joining online every day and the borrowing of ebooks and eaudiobooks had increased sharply with about 300 new titles added last month.

“We’ve also introduced collections of ‘no waiting’ ebooks and eaudiobooks on BorrowBox where multiple people can loan the same popular title at the same time – which is great for book clubs,” he said.

“Members can also access movies, children’s storytelling and courses on thousands of different topics for free in the comfort of their home.

“We’re encouraging anyone who wants to find out more to check out the elibrary on our website and to stay in touch through the Fraser Coast Libraries’ Facebook page for the latest news.”

Log on or visit the Fraser Coast Libraries facebook page for more information.