FOLLOWING the conclusion of National Storytelling Week today (Saturday, 6 February) Thurrock Council is hoping local residents will continue to access its services through lockdown.

Libraries across the borough may be closed but access to books and reading is still available.

Thurrock Libraries are running virtual Reading Friends Groups and staff are making befriending calls to Homelink customers and any other adults who feel lonely and isolated and just want a chat which starts off talking about reading (of course). To find out more click here. Join the group via Zoom on Tuesdays at 11.15am or Saturdays at 11.00am. Email [email protected] with your library card number to receive the password.

Don't forget Borrowbox is still around so you can borrow e-books and e-audio for adults and children.

There are also newspapers (Pressreader) and magazines too (rbdigital) which can be accessed here.

The Summer Reading Challenge will be back this year and the libraries service hope to run it again but in libraries this time as well as online. It all depends of course on the pandemic situation.

And if you need computer help (tablets/ipads etc)the librtaries service is running virtual sessions for these too. Email [email protected]. There is also a virtual Job Club too.

Readers Helpdesk is also available every Wednesday between 10am and midday. This is to help you find a book to read, look for authors, etc but also how to use our online resources. Email [email protected] to make an appointment.

For those of you looking after small children - baby rhyme times are also live on Tuesdays at 10.30am. Again, mail [email protected] with your library card number and for the password link.