Residents of South Gloucestershire can now access thousands of local and national newspapers free-of-charge through our new online library resources.
We can now offer the majority of national and local papers in addition to a range of international titles from across the world.
During the coronavirus pandemic there has been a significant increase in the number of people accessing our online resources with a surge of new members joining online – up 638 per cent since lockdown began.
In response to the demand, we have increased and expanded our online resources and are delighted to have received a grant of £1,000 from the Arts Council England to extend the service for a period of twelve months.
This new service is part of South Gloucestershire Council Libraries current online offer, which also includes ebooks, eaudiobooks, digital magazines and eComics.
Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “This is a brilliant addition to our current online service. Access to newspapers online means that people will not have to leave home as often in the current circumstances and access to international titles means that people can keep up to date with news as it’s reported across the world.
“With our libraries currently closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, access to these online resources is invaluable to residents and means people can continue to read or listen to books in the comfort of their own home.”
Anyone who isn’t yet a member of a South Gloucestershire library can join online at www.librarieswest.org.uk and will be issued with a temporary membership to access online resources.
LibrariesWest is a partnership between the library services of Bath & North East Somerset, Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole, Bristol, Dorset, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils.
For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/eresources
