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This article is about a public library service that delivers to people in need. For a library on wheels, see bookmobile.

A home library service is a delivery service offered by some libraries (especially in Australia and the United Kingdom) for people who are unable to visit a library because of sickness, disability, or geography.

Home library services deliver to user's homes, as well as retirement homes and nursing homes, where the staff will work with librarians to deliver services.[1] Users of a home library service may request specific titles, or list preferences like genre and format, and have librarians select items for them.[2] Most users of HLS are elderly[2] and may need large print books.[3]

Some HLS services use couriers, while others will have librarians or volunteers connect with users directly.[4] Direct connection means staff can connect users with further community activities and council resources.[4] Proponents of HLS say that it can help people feel more involved with their community[5] especially when HLS users form relationships with the volunteers or librarians.[6][7][4]

While HLS is usually a public library service, it has been offered by academic libraries.[8]

By country

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Australia

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Despite not being a legal requirement of public libraries, HLS is offered by almost all major public libraries in Australia. It is strongly promoted by the Australia Library and Information Association (ALIA), who state "The home library service should be a mainstream, integral, part of a public library service, with priority equal to other services of the library" and provide guidelines for the service.[9]

Australian public libraries are not allowed to charge for HLS services because of section 10 of the Library Act 1939[10] which states:

No charge is to be made for the delivery to a member of the library of any book or information that the member is entitled to borrow free of charge if the member for reasons of ill-health or disability cannot reasonably be expected to attend the library in person.[11]

United Kingdom

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In the UK, home library services are often delivered by volunteers rather than library staff.[12] Some libraries offer HLS to people living in rural areas who do not have local libraries.[13]

Other countries

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Home library services also exist in Argentina,[14] Thailand,[15] The Netherlands,[16] Finland,[17] and Canada.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ryder, Julie (2004-09-11). "Can't get to the library? Then we'll come to you. A survey of library services to people in their own homes in the United Kingdom". Health Information & Libraries Journal. 21 (s2): 5–13. doi:10.1111/j.1740-3324.2004.00515.x. ISSN 1471-1834. PMID 15317571.
  2. ^ a b Prendiville, Alison (2018-03-01). "Amplifying Relationships through Place and Locality in the Design of Local Government Digital Services". She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation. Cultures of Resilience. 4 (1): 47–59. doi:10.1016/j.sheji.2018.02.007. ISSN 2405-8726.
  3. ^ "Local Libraries Add To Accessible Book Collections". Mirage News. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  4. ^ a b c Thorpe, Adam; Rhodes, Sarah (2018-03-01). "The Public Collaboration Lab—Infrastructuring Redundancy with Communities-in-Place". She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation. Cultures of Resilience. 4 (1): 60–74. doi:10.1016/j.sheji.2018.02.008. ISSN 2405-8726.
  5. ^ Roberts, Darrell (2023-11-13). "Can't make it to the library? For 50 years, the home reader service has been bringing the library to you". CBC News.
  6. ^ "'It saved my life': Praise for home library service used by more than 300 residents". Bracknell News. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  7. ^ Carr, Vicky (2023-01-15). "Home library service still going strong after 60 years". The Stray Ferret. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  8. ^ "Evaluating Book Delivery From an Academic Library to a Retirement Community". cdr.lib.unc.edu. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  9. ^ "Guidelines for Australian home library services". alia.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  10. ^ "Home library services". pls.sl.nsw.gov.au. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  11. ^ "Library Act and Regulation - Freedelivery". pls.sl.nsw.gov.au. State Library of New South Wales. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  12. ^ Beaton, Marion (2005). "Glasgow City Council: library, information and learning services for disabled people in Glasgow". Library Review; Glasgow. 54 (8): 472–478. doi:10.1108/00242530510619174 – via ProQuest.
  13. ^ Benstead, Kerry; Spacey, Rachel; Goulding, Anne (2004-01-01). "Changing public library service delivery to rural communities in England". New Library World. 105 (11/12): 400–409. doi:10.1108/03074800410568734. ISSN 0307-4803.
  14. ^ Julia Todaro, Alicia (2005-01-01). "Library services for people with disabilities in Argentina". New Library World. 106 (5/6): 253–268. doi:10.1108/03074800510595869. ISSN 0307-4803.
  15. ^ Choh, Ngian Lek (2013). "Libraries in Southeast Asia: a force for social development!". IFLA World Library and Information Congress Papers. S2CID 133906143.
  16. ^ van Bilsen, P.M.A. (2007-01-01). Care for the elderly : an exploration of perceived needs, demands and service use. Maastricht: Universiteit Maastricht. ISBN 978-90-352-2969-3.
  17. ^ Bolt, Nancy. "Library Services to people with disabilities: a UN/IFLA project". International Leads; Chicago. 32 (2): 8–10. ProQuest 2075492934 – via ProQuest.
  18. ^ "What's the hoopla? It's a new on-demand, at home library service". CollingwoodToday.ca. 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
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