Wiltshire Libraries share what's on offer to support communities during Get Online Week

Wiltshire libraries are reminding communities about the facilities and support they are offering in the heart of communities across the county, to help people get online.

Get Online Week, from 18 to 24 October, is a week-long celebration of digital inclusion organised by the Good Things Foundation, that inspires people to do more online and helps them learn how.

Libraries across Wiltshire offer free access to WiFi, computers and scanners, and a small fee for printing. In 2019/20, Wiltshire libraries provided 91,772 hours of supported internet access on the public computers.

One customer said: I've been using the library public computers each week to search and apply for jobs throughout the pandemic. I've now secured a job and I couldn't wait to share the news.

Library staff can also help job seekers to find the support they need by signposting them to useful books and websites, and local and national organisations that can provide advice, support and training. The library team has created a new Job Seeker information pack, available at Information and learning.

Wiltshire library members can also access a range of online services, such as Ancestry and eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines. In 2020/21, 198,884 library eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines were downloaded.

A customer said: Your online library saved my bacon over lockdown! There are so many good books on there. I particularly enjoy listening to the audio books, as it's like having company.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: Our libraries have many facilities on offer to help our communities to get online. As well as computer access, libraries can help with scanning, printing, support for job seekers and online resources including free access to websites to explore your family history.

Our friendly staff are on hand to help customers with what they need, so please do come in, join the library for free if not already a member, and see how they can help you.

To celebrate Get Online Week, library staff have created displays that show why they love being online. The displays include a list of local organisations that can provide support to anyone interested in getting online.

People can join at their local branch or visit the Wiltshire Council website to find out how to sign up for a free library membership and more about the computer access and online services available at Libraries.