Read all about it - your library is growing

Avid readers will soon be able to borrow, return and reserve books at more than 200 libraries throughout the South East thanks to a new Royal Borough initiative.

Using their Royal Borough library membership card, from Thursday 1 July residents will have access to more than six million books and other services in any public library belonging to nine local authorities which are part of the South East Library Management System (SELMS) consortium, with more authorities joining in the future.

Up to now library users have had to join a particular library service to reserve and borrow books and could only return books to libraries in the same authority. Now customers can use their Royal Borough library card at libraries in Milton Keynes or borrow books in Brighton and return them in Kent.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for adult and community services, welcomed the opportunity to offer a seamless, more efficient service to customers.

He said: "At a time when budget cuts threaten all areas of public spending and the ability to meet customer demands, this service is providing innovative ways of delivering more for less.

"The Royal Borough's libraries are already well used, and this new arrangement is sure to boost their popularity even further.

"The new arrangement will mean, for example, that our residents can borrow books while they are away on business or holiday, finish them at home and drop them off at their local library.

"If their daily commute takes them to an authority in the consortium they will no longer need to remember which book they borrowed from which library or which ticket to take with them."

The Royal Borough has taken the administrative lead over the last couple of years on working with other South East authorities to develop SELMS.

Joining the Royal Borough in the 1 July launch are Brighton and Hove City Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Kent County Council, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Medway Council, Milton Keynes Council, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council.

Slough Borough Council is joining later this year and Hertfordshire County Council in January.

An automated 24-hour renewals line has also been introduced. Borrowers can call 0303 123 0035 any time of day and renew their books by entering their membership card number and library PIN and following the prompts.

For further details on the service and to sign up, visit your local library or search the catalogue on www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_catalogue.htm

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