Order and Collect Service - branch libraries

Wrexham Libraries are taking the next step towards the phased re-opening of the service. The new Order and Collect service is being rolled out to Coedpoeth Library, Llay Library, Cefn Mawr and Ruabon Library from Wednesday, July 29. You will only be able to return, order and collect stock from these libraries. We will do our best to get the books you want to you as quickly as we can. The safety of our staff and customers is our priority and we are following Welsh Government guidance on how to handle library books. Please note all books returned to the library will be quarantined for 72 hours. When your books are ready, we will contact you to arrange an appointment for you to come and collect them. You can return books at the same appointment if you are collecting books. If you only want to return books, you will need to contact us by email and telephone to arrange an appointment. All books you currently have on loan and any you borrow via Order and Collect Service will be automatically renewed so you do not need to worry about returning them on time and you will not incur any fines. We look forward to seeing you again!

New books added to stock

Did you know we are still receiving new books on a weekly basis? If you would like to read any of them please add them to your order and collect list. Titles include A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende, Silent Death by Peter May, Agency by William Gibson, Maker's Curse by Trudi Canaven, Knife by Jo Nesbo and much more.

Summer Reading Challenge

Have you signed up for this year's Summer Reading Challenge? Join the Silly Squad, an adventurous team of animals who love to have a laugh and get stuck into all sorts of funny books! The Challenge will run until mid-September. The Summer Reading Challenge website is free to access and features games, quizzes and downloadable activities that incentivise and encourage children to take part in reading related activities. For more details go to www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Temporary online membership

Did you know that you can get a temporary online membership that will give you access to all of our online ebooks free of charge? Go to www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries - Online services and select Online Catalogue and Join the Library.

Ancestry.com for FREE

Have you ever wondered who your ancestors are and what they did for a living? To find the answers to these questions why not visit the library's website where you can have free full access to Ancestry.com until the end of July. Ancestry will give you access to UK and international records such as the census, births, marriages and deaths, parish records and much more. For more details visit our website www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries and follow the online services link.

Meet the team...

Kelly is a library assistant with Wrexham Libraries Service, having worked there for 13 years.

What do you love about your job?

I love the variety of the job, no two days are the same. I enjoy recommending books to customers and hearing what they think and they also recommend books to me. I also enjoy creating displays for promotions and promoting all the services we have to offer on our social media sites.

How can the service help those in our communities?

Apart from the obvious services a library provides it is a safe haven for the vulnerable people of our town and villages, both young and old.

In the library vulnerable people can sit and read a book, newspaper or magazine in a safe and warm place. For some of our customers the library staff are the only people they will talk to that day or even that week.

Many of our customers have become more like friends to the staff and this enables us, as staff, to keep an eye on some of those who may need help and advise them where to find that help.

Libraries are increasingly playing an important role as community hubs, not only do they provide a wealth of books and information - whether for learning or pleasure, they offer a wide variety of services ranging from free access to our computers and internet - whether you want to check your emails, search for a job, create your family tree on Ancestry, prepare for your theory test on Theory Test Pro or if a child wants to do their homework.

We also have printing and photocopying facilities, a variety of groups ranging from books groups, craft groups, Lego clubs, story times and much more! We offer a welcoming and safe environment for everyone - whether you are new to the area and want to make new friends by joining one of our many groups and clubs or just want to come and have a chat with the staff, or if a young parent wants to meet up with other parents and join our story times, or if you just want to sit and relax with a book or newspaper there is something for everyone!

Favourite Childhood Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Book you could read over and over? I don't tend to re-read a book.

Favourite author? I don't really have a favourite author but I tend to read psychological thrillers more than any other genre.

Last book you read? A Gift for Dying by M J Arlidge

Any reading recommendations? I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh; Room by Emma Donoghue; The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths; Clifton Chronicles series by Jeffrey Archer; Detective Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons; P. S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern; The Dry by Jane Harper.